A pregnant woman tragically lost her life after enduring five days of brutal torture during an exorcism in Badin, Sindh.
The incident took place in Khuda Bakhsh, Hisbani village near Malkani Sharif town and was reported on Monday. However, authorities have yet to file a case against the perpetrators.
The victim, 30-year-old Sangita Kolhi, was given over to local witch doctors, Bachu Kolhi and Harsan Kolhi, by her husband Haresh Kolhi’s family, who suspected she was possessed by an evil spirit.
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The two suspects conducted what they termed a “spiritual cleansing” ritual inside a temple across from her home. According to media reports, this so-called exorcism involved extreme physical abuse, including beatings with fists and sticks and violent hair-pulling, which lasted for five days and nights.
Sangita ultimately succumbed to her injuries on Sunday night. Her desperate screams alerted family members and neighbors, who rushed to the scene but were unable to intervene. The witch doctors allegedly continued the torture until the police were called. Officers arrived promptly and arrested the suspects.
Sangita’s father, Vishram, her brother Ashok, and her mother informed the police that she had been in good health before being taken to the witch doctors. When they traveled from Jhuddo to check on her, the suspects refused to allow them to see her, claiming that any interference would disrupt the exorcism and that they could visit her the next morning.
Local residents confirmed hearing Sangita’s agonizing cries for five consecutive nights but assumed the exorcists were attempting to rid her of an evil spirit.
Sangita had been married for six years without children but was pregnant at the time of her death.
Following her death, her body was sent for a post-mortem before being handed over to her family, who took it back to their village in Jhuddo.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Paras Ali Memon of Pangrio police station confirmed that the suspects were taken into custody. Another police official stated that while a post-mortem had been completed, legal proceedings would only begin once the victim’s family formally lodged a complaint, which had not yet happened.
