Men get life term for 1982 exorcism-murder in UP village
After more than four decades, the Allahabad High Court has convicted Awadhesh Kumar (now 71) for the 1982 murder of Kusuma Devi (23).
Kumar and his accomplice, Mata Prasad, strangled Kusuma under the pretense of performing an exorcism.
Prosecutors said the crime followed Kumar being caught in an illicit relationship with his brother's wife.
Witnesses said she was forcibly held and killed before her body was quickly cremated to hide the evidence.
Court urges society to reject such superstitions
This week, Justices Rajiv Gupta and Harvir Singh overturned a 1984 acquittal, sentencing both men to life in prison plus three years for destroying evidence.
They were fined ₹20,000 and ₹5,000 each and must surrender within two weeks.
The court called out how dangerous blind faith can be—especially in remote areas—and urged society to reject such superstitions that lead to violence.