Tribal man suspected to be sorcerer; thrown into river

A 35-year-old tribal man, suspected to be a sorcerer, was allegedly attacked, packed alive in a bag and thrown into the Nagabali river by some villagers at Veja in Rayagada district, police said today.

Suspecting him as a 'black magician', about ten people attacked Bhimrao Atka, tied him with an electric pole and later packed him alive in a bag and threw him into the river yesterday, Rayagada SDPO Niranjan Behera said.

Fire brigade personnel have launched a search operation in the river to trace the man.

Behera said a case has been registered but nobody has been arrested so far.