Occultist assaults woman during ‘exorcism’ ritual, FIR lodged

Indore: Aerodrome police have registered a case against a self-styled occultist for allegedly assaulting a woman during a ritual performed on the pretext of removing an evil spirit from her body. The accused, Suresh Koshal, a resident of Mahavir Nagar in Chhota Bangarda, allegedly beat the woman with an iron tong and also attacked her mother when she tried to intervene.DCP Krishna Lalchandani said the mother and daughter approached Aerodrome police station on Thursday and lodged a complaint. Police conducted their medical examination and registered an FIR against the accused for assault and harassment under false pretenceIn the complaint, Mamta mentioned that her daughter Shalini was unwell for a long time. Hoping for relief, she took her to the a self-styled occultist Koshal on March 10 for a ritual. The accused allegedly gave Shalini cloves, lemon and sacred ash and asked her to consume them at home, while instructing them to return the next night.When the mother and daughter reached his house the following night, Koshal allegedly made Shalini sit outside the gate and began performing a ritual. During the process, he reportedly claimed that a spirit was inside her body and started beating her with an iron tong. As the assault continued, Shalini began screaming.Hearing the cries, Mamta rushed to save her daughter but was also allegedly attacked by the accused with the tong. He reportedly insisted that the woman was possessed and claimed the beating was part of the treatment. The victim's brother-in-law and a neighbour later reached the spot to intervene, but the accused allegedly threatened them.