In a tragic incident in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district, a 30-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death by a local pastor and eight accomplices in an attempt to “rid him of the devil,” according to police reports.
Samuel Masih, a resident of Singhpura village in Dhariwal, had been suffering from seizures and frequent outbursts. His family, seeking help, invited Pastor Jacob Masih to perform a prayer for Samuel on Wednesday. The pastor claimed that Samuel was possessed by a devil and needed exorcism to be freed from the affliction.
Under the pretense of exorcism, Pastor Masih and eight others reportedly subjected Samuel to severe physical abuse, believing that this would expel the supposed evil spirit from his body. The violent ordeal resulted in Samuel’s death on the spot. The family, initially unaware of the gravity of the situation, buried him the following day.
It was only two days later that Samuel’s mother and wife lodged a formal complaint against Pastor Masih and his associates. The police subsequently exhumed Samuel’s body for a post-mortem examination, which was conducted under the supervision of duty magistrate Inderjit Kaur.
A case has been filed against Pastor Jacob Masih and the eight others under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and the alleged exorcism practices that led to this tragic outcome.
Sources By Agencies
