Sri Lankan police on Monday said they had arrested two people in connection with the death of a 9-year-old girl who was repeatedly beaten during a ritual they believe would drive away an evil spirit. The two suspects – the woman who carried out the exorcism and the girl’s mother – were to appear in court on Monday to hear charges over the death of the girl, who was in Delgoda, a small town about 40km northeast of the capital, Colombo.
Sudath Pubudu Keerthi / AP
According to Ajith Rohana, police spokesperson, the mother believed that her daughter was possessed by a demon and took her to the house of the exorcists so that a ritual could be performed to drive away the spirit.
Rohana said the exorcist first put oil on the girl and then repeatedly started beating her with a cane. When the girl lost consciousness, she was taken to a hospital, where she died. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday.
The woman who performed the ritual to the girl has been known for the past few months for offering such services, and police are investigating whether anyone else was abused, Rohana said.
Rohana urged the public to be careful with such services as the girl was not the first to die during such a ritual.