Family suspected of witchcraft ostracised

Parvathipuram (Vizianagaram): A family was ostracised as the villagers suspected them of practising witchcraft in Komarada mandal of
Vizianagaram district recently.

According sources, a death, which was caused by sunstroke, was termed as a witchcraft death by the kin of the deceased. N Gowru, who
hailed from Nandapuram village in Komarada mandal, died of sunstroke recently, but the family members and relatives of the deceased
have blamed K Gumpa Swamy belonging to the nearby village Tammannadora Valasa, was responsible for the death as he performed
witchcraft on Gowru which resulted in his death.

This led to an argument between the families of Gowru and K Gumpa Swamy and in a fit of rage they clashed. Later, the deceased’s
family took a decision to ostracise Gumpa Swamy and his sons and informed the people of Gumpa Swamy native village. Therefore, the
villagers Tammannadora Valasa shunned boarding the autorickshaw owned by Someswara Rao, son of Gumpa Swamy, and stopped
talking to their family.

When contacted K Chandrasekhar Circle Inspector of Parvathipuram said: “We did not receive any information in this regard. Nobody
approached us for help. If it is true, we won’t allow such incidents. None can ostracise anybody in the village.”