Two women, child detained at witchcraft centre for several days, rescued: Police

An officer of Malayalappuzha police station said the women and the eight-year old child were kept imprisoned following a financial row between the couple and the husband of one of the detained women.

Two women and a child were illegally confined for several days at a witchcraft centre at Malayalappuzha in this southern Kerala district and were rescued a day ago by local residents and the police which is looking for a couple who had kept them imprisoned. An officer of Malayalappuzha police station said the women and the eight-year old child were kept imprisoned following a financial row between the couple and the husband of one of the detained women. However, no withcraft or black magic rituals were carried out on the family, police said. It said that a case has been lodged for illegal detention, causing hurt and other applicable criminal provisions of the penal code against the couple who are absconding. The man with whom the couple had the financial row is also missing, police said. The locals who rescued the family from the withcraft centre also demolished it, the officer said. The couple were arrested last year for witchcraft activities and were later released on bail, police said. While in jail they had met the husband of one of the detained women and had allegedly loaned him some money, it said. However, when he failed to return it, they confined his family, police said.