7 thrashed mercilessly while per forming secret puja to get hidden wealth in Boudh

Boudh: As many as seven persons had to pay a heavy price while making attempt to retrieve a buried treasure as they were allegedly beaten up mercilessly by locals in Boudh district.
The incident was reported from Karanjakata village under Purunakatak police limits in tribal-infested district.
The villagers attacked them suspecting to be child lifters and handed them over to local police.
According to reports, a youth namely Iswar Behera (27) of Karanjakata village had approached a person Shivram Mohapatra, who is a sorcerer and native to Bhanjanagar but presently staying at Raikia area, his wife Priyambada Mallick also accompanied them to get the valuable treasure buried under the ground. He had contacted one of his relatives Nehru Behera (52) in Angul district. The youth’s father Alekh Behera (55) and two others Gokul Chandra Patnaik (45) of Rambha area and Pradip Mohapatra (48) of Dhenkanal district had also joined his secret mission to get hidden wealth.
As per their plan, they began a secret puja at a secluded place late on Thursday night to know exact location of hidden treasure.
Some youths after getting information about their plan reached the spot to foil their bid. A few minutes later, women villagers rushed to the place and started assaulting them physically including the sorcerer. They reportedly vandalised a car in which all seven people had come to the village.
On receiving information, Purunakatak Police reached the place and rescued the victims. They detained all seven persons for interrogation.
During questioning, it was clear that the seven persons had come to the place for commiting dacoity, informed Purunakatak Police IIC Jyotshna Kaunri.
Some eyewitnesses are saying that another car managed to flee from the spot during attack on the sorcerer as well as six others.