A 55-year-old woman died after allegedly being subjected to brutal assault in a supposed exorcism ritual in Shivamogga district on Monday, July 7. It has sparked widespread outrage, especially after disturbing video footage of the ordeal surfaced online.
The ‘ritual’ started in the village of Hosa Jambraghatta on the night of July 6. Geethamma reportedly died around 1:30 am on July 7 after being subjected to the prolonged and violent ritual led by a self-proclaimed exorcist, Asha (45).
Asha, her husband Santosh, and Geethamma’s son Sanjay have been arrested on charges of murder.
A family member, Nagappa, told the media that Geethamma had been showing signs of mental illness for about two weeks and had been shouting at night. “I advised Sanjay to take her to a doctor in Shivamogga, but he trusted Asha instead,” he said.
According to the police, the torture began around 9:30 pm on July 6 when Asha visited Geethamma’s home and convinced Sanjay that his mother was possessed by an evil spirit. Believing Asha’s claims, Sanjay allowed the ritual to proceed.
Police say Asha performed a puja in front of Geethamma’s house before forcibly dragging her outside and declaring her possessed. She then began to beat Geethamma with a stick and dragged her for nearly 2.5 kilometers to the Chowdamma temple in Hale Jambraghatta, continuing the alleged exorcism until the early hours of the morning.
A disturbing video from the incident shows Geethamma in a semi-conscious state as Asha rotates a lemon around her head and then strikes her with it before rubbing the fruit’s halves aggressively into her scalp.
Superintendent of Police GK Mithun Kumar, who visited the scene, said the Holehonnur police have registered a case of murder. “This incident is deeply disturbing. People must seek medical attention for mental health concerns, not turn to such dangerous and unscientific rituals,” he said.
Geethamma is survived by three children.