Police have arrested 56 persons and launched a manhunt for another 94 persons for burning alive an alleged sorcerer (black magician) in Mudireddipalli village in Mahbubnagar district, Andhra Pradesh.
The village, with 1,500 population, wore a deserted look as most residents fled fearing arrest and interrogation by the police in connection with the bizarre incident.
Giving details, a local police official said, "a barber, Mangali Parvathalu, was burnt to death by gullible women on the instigation of some men" who blamed the victim for the death of 30 persons due to alleged sorcery over the last few months.
"We have booked the case of murder against 150 villagers, including 100 women.
Already, 56 persons, including 37 women, have been arrested and sent to judicial remand.
"Ninety four persons are still at large. We have dispatched several teams to nab them. We have also posted a police picket in the village. The situation is peaceful," Shadnagar Circle Inspector of Police Satyanarayana told rediff.Com over phone on Thursday.
The police registered a case under sections 302, 307, 147, 432 and 201 of the Indian Penal Code against the accused.
The accused raided the barber shop of 35-year-old Parvathalu on Tuesday afternoon, dragged him out, poured petrol and kerosene and set him ablaze.
The barber was suspected of sorcery because 'he had been seen throwing lemons here and there', Satyanarayana said, adding that many villagers here believe that lemons are used in black magic.
Though the victim put out the flames by jumping into a nearby pond, the mob, consisting mostly women, caught him, pushed him back into his wooden shop and set him ablaze again before locking the shop to prevent him from escaping.
His wife Prameela, who rushed to the spot to rescue him, was thrashed by the mob, which threatened to torch her as well. By the time police rushed to the village, Parvathalu's body was totally burnt.
The accused include neighbours and relatives of a 35-year-old woman, Ryagula Venkatamma, who died under mysterious circumstances in the early hours of Tuesday. They suspected that she died due to Banamati (witchcraft) practiced by Parvathalu.
The bodies of both were shifted to the taluk hospital for post-mortem. Venkatamma was found to have consumed poison. Parvathalu's body was charred beyond recognition.