Amravati, January 18: A 77-year-old woman was allegedly thrashed, forced to drink urine and branded with an iron rod on suspicion of practising black magic in a village in Maharashtra's Amravati district, police said on Saturday. While the incident occurred on December 30, a police complaint was lodged earlier this month, and the victim's son and daughter-in-law approached senior officials on Friday demanding action, an official said.

The victim is a resident of Retyakheda village in Chikhaldara taluka, he said.

In a letter to the district collector and superintendent of police, the complainants alleged that the woman was alone at home on December 30 when her neighbours caught hold of her, alleging that she practised black magic, the official said. Thane Shocker: Self-Proclaimed Godman Hazrat Baba Asks Woman To Procure Dead Body To 'Cure' Her Family From 'Black Magic Curse', Dupes Her of INR 8.87 Lakh; Arrested.

Villagers allegedly hit the victim with a wooden stick and slapped and thrashed her. She was also branded with hot iron rods on her hands and legs, the complainants have alleged. As per the complaint, the woman was forced to drink urine and consume dog excreta, following which she was paraded with a garland of slippers around her neck. Surat Shocker: Man Misleads Police With Fake Black Magic Story, Admits to Chopping Off Own Fingers To Avoid Working at Relative’s Firm in Gujarat.

The victim's son and daughter-in-law, who were away for work, found out about the incident on January 5 and lodged a police complaint. Talking to PTI, Amravati Superintendent of Police Vishal Anand said the incident was serious, and the complainants spoke to him on Friday. The village is in the interiors of a forest, and a police official has been dispatched to verify the event, and accordingly, action will be taken. He said it would also be verified if the concerned police station where the complaint was lodged tried to hide the incident, and action would be taken if there was any lapse.

Women and Child Helpline Numbers:

Childline India – 1098; Women’s Helpline – 181; National Commission for Women Helpline – 112; National Commission for Women Helpline Against Violence – 7827170170; Police Women / Senior Citizen Helpline – 1091/ 1291; Missing Child and Women – 1094.