Sukma: In a harrowing incident on Sunday, the village of Itkal, located about 10 km from Konta headquarters in the Murliguda panchayat—established post-Salwa Judum—became the site of a brutal massacre driven by deep-rooted superstition. Villagers, propelled by their belief in black magic, collectively murdered five members of a family. The victims included Mausam Bucha, a Head Constable with the state police, along with his parents, wife, and sister.

The Incident

On Sunday morning, a village assembly concluded with a decision to eliminate the Bucha family. Following this meeting, five young villagers were tasked with carrying out the gruesome act.

Hundreds of villagers gathered to execute the plan, brutally killing the entire family. The massacre was carried out with alarming brutality. The victims were attacked by sticks leading to their deaths on the spot.

The victims of the tragic incident included Mausam Kanna, the son of Lachha; Mausam Bucha, the son of Kanna; Mausam Biri, the wife of Mausam Kanna; Karaka Lachhi, the wife of Karaka Lachha; and Mausam Arjo, the wife of Mausam Bucha.

The individuals accused of these heinous crimes are Savlam Rajesh, Savlam Hidma, Karam Satyam, Kunjam Mukesh and Podiyam Enka, the son of Podiyam Joga who have been arrested. Officials said, more people may be arrested in connection with the murders.

After the killings, the villagers showed no signs of remorse. Some of them even went to the Konta police station to surrender, believing that they had eradicated a curse that had been haunting their village.

At the Bucha residence, the atmosphere was one of profound grief. Mausam Bucha's sisters, Ravali and Nagi, were seen wailing uncontrollably, while the village remained under police surveillance. Despite the presence of law enforcement, the villagers kept their distance from the grieving family’s home, displaying no signs of mourning. The villagers were convinced that their actions had lifted a perceived curse from their village.

Background and Underlying Causes

Itkal, a small settlement predominantly inhabited by the Dorla tribe, consists of approximately 36 families with a total population of around 150.

Over the past two years, the village has faced a series of sudden deaths. According to villagers, around 30 people have died due to illness or other causes during this period. Notably, most of these deaths occurred on Wednesdays in 2023 and on Tuesdays in 2024. In the weeks leading up to the massacre, there had been three consecutive deaths on Tuesdays, which heightened the villagers' fears and anxieties.

Superstitions took hold when villagers began to attribute these deaths to black magic. Bucha’s mother, Biri, practiced traditional healing rituals known locally as "Vadde" (exorcism). Rumors spread that Biri was using witchcraft to inflict harm on the community, intensifying the villagers' animosity towards her family. This baseless belief in black magic fueled the tragic decision to commit murder.

The dire situation in Itkal is further compounded by widespread illiteracy. Only 25 individuals in the entire village are educated. Although a primary school exists, only 13 children attend. Out of the entire village, only four children have completed grade 10, and eight have completed grade 5.

The lack of education means that villagers are more inclined to seek solutions through superstition and witchcraft rather than through medical or rational explanations. This lack of understanding has led them to blame supernatural forces for illness and deaths.