Unending black magic murders

KOTTAYAM: Even while we are proudly claiming that we are a literate society, black magic murders continue to happen in Kerala. Let us have a look at some of the heinous atrocities that took place over four and a half decades.

December 1981

A housewife named Sophia was killed and buried by her husband and relatives in Panamkutty, Idukki. They committed the murder on the instructions of a sorcerer in Tamil Nadu. The body was buried in the kitchen. The accused were sentenced to life imprisonment.

July 1981
A class 9 student was brutally murdered by his father and sister for treasure in Mundiyeruma. They pierced the boy's eyes and nose. Six were sentenced to life imprisonment.

October 2012
Two men named Christudas and Antony were stabbed to death in Poovar for questioning sorcery. The two had questioned the accused after knowing that Christudas's relative committed suicide due to witchcraft. Six accused were awarded a double life sentence.

July 2014
Haseena, a native of Karunagappally Thazhava, died after being kicked by a sorcerer. The sorcerer Sirajuddin was arrested.

August 2014
A pregnant woman named Harsana died during witchcraft in Ponnani. The case is on trial.

August 2018
A man named Kaanat Krishnan, his wife Sushila and their two children, were killed and buried by his assistant Aneesh in Vannapuram, Idukki. Aneesh, who believed that Krishnan had the power of 300 gods, killed him to steal his powers. He is currently on bail

March 2019

A young woman named Thushara was killed by her husband and mother-in-law in Karunagapally on the instructions of a sorcerer. The family used to give Thushara only sugar water and soaked rice after listening to the sorcerer's words. She weighed 20 kg at the time of her death. The case is on trial.

February 2021

A mother killed her six-year-old son by slitting his throat. The incident took place at Pudupalli Theruvu in Palakkad. Mother Shahida revealed that she sacrificed her son for the pleasure of Allah. The case is on trial.