Man killed by kin in bid to 'exorcise evil spirits', six held

A 50-year-old man was allegedly killed by his family members, who stomped on his chest in a bid to free him of "evil spirits" here, following which six persons were arrested, police said on Wednesday.

The deceased was identified as Kanji Kumbhar, a resident of Parasnath Society in Katargam in Surat, police said.

"Kumbhar's three sons, including a minior, a daughter, his daughter-in-law and wife, were arrested for allegedly killing him while performing black magic on him on Saturday night," Katargam police station inspector S M Joshi said.

"Kumbhar's family members believed that he was possessed by evil spirits. They decided to drive away the evil spirits by performing black magic on him," he said.

On Saturday night, they first offered some adulterated water to him and then made him lie down on the floor facing the ceiling of their apartment. Thereafter, they repeatedly jumped on his chest despite knowing that he might die, he said.

While one of his arrested sons is a minor, the other accused were identified as sons Prakash and Dinesh, daughter Hetal, daughter-in-law Nishita and wife Hansa, the officer said adding that the accused left the body lying in the flat and went to stay elsewhere in the city.

After being alerted, the police recovered his body and sent it for post-mortem, Joshi said,