9-year-old girl beaten to death in brutal exorcism ritual in Sri Lanka: police
A Sri Lankan mom and a so-called exorcist have been arrested for the death of a 9-year-old girl who was repeatedly beaten with a cane during a ritual to expel a supposed evil spirit from her body, police said Monday.
The mother, apparently believing that her daughter was possessed by a demon, took the child to the home of a local exorcist over the weekend in Delgoda, a small town about 25 miles northeast of the capital, Colombo, according to police.
The woman performing the ritual began the session by dousing the girl in some sort of oil before hitting her over and over with a cane, police spokesperson Ajith Rohana told The Associated Press.
The victim eventually lost consciousness and was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, authorities said. The exact cause of death remains under investigation as an autopsy was scheduled for Monday.
The child’s mother and the exorcist both appeared in court Monday to face charges over the incident. The crimes they were charged with were not immediately clear.
Both women were ordered detained until at least March 12.
Police said the exorcist was known to offer such services in the area, and they are now investigating whether other people have been abused by the woman.
The girl’s mother had taken her daughter to another woman performing similar rituals before the deadly incident, Sri Lankan news outlet Ada Derana reported.
With News Wire Services
