Raipur, May 21: In an incident reminiscent of the infamous Bhagalpur blindings of the Eighties in Bihar, a married couple's eyes were brutally pierced by some villagers using scissors, and the woman's tongue was cut off after the woman was branded a "witch", police said.
The brutal incident took place on Friday in village Saura, about 65 kms from here, SSP Deepanshu Kabra said.
The woman, Shyamkunwar (45) - a Dalit - was branded a witch by the locals, who held her responsible for the health and financial being faced by people in the area, he said.
A group of villagers barged into the couple's house and began assaulting the woman. When her husband Mansharam Banjare tried to intervene, enraged villagers damaged their eyes and later severed Kunwar's tongue, police said.
The injured couple was admitted to a nearby hospital.
The incident sparked tension in the village, where additional force has been deployed, Kabra said.
Six persons have been arrested so far, police said, adding a case has been registered under the Witchcraft Prevention Act. PTI
