Fear grips Tamil Nadu village after 45-skulls found in graveyard
Villagers in Vakkanampatti village of Tamil Nadu's Vellore district are living in fear after 45 human skulls were found dumped in the courtyard, HT reports. The residents of the village found the skulls on Friday morning and are worried a bad omen might be on its way. The locals also believe someone did black magic and left the skulls there. Here's more on this.
Milk vendor found the skulls, informed everyone else
The skulls were accompanied by coconuts, incense sticks and were arranged in form of a garland. The first one to spot them was milk-vendor S Balasubramanian. He said he was cycling when he saw something different in the graveyard. "I initially thought they were to be decayed pumpkins thrown away. But, on a closer look, I found them to be skulls," he told HT.
The villagers are living in fear
Hearing Balasubramanian's screams, the entire village gathered at the graveyard, which is common for both Hindus and Christians. Fear has taken over the village, which has a population of 1,000. Not just evenings, but people are reluctant to leave homes even during the day. Woman and girls have stopped going out alone. A local said someone may have chosen their village to perform black magic.
Some others feel Godman could have been involved
Another resident M Alphonse didn't agree with villagers about the possibility of black magic. He said some Godman might have performed witchcraft and could have possibly dumped the skulls in the village. The local astrologer AS Ramesh agreed with this theory. He said residents in Tiruvannamalai and Vellore districts still believed in occult practices and approached Godmen in these areas.
The geography of the village could explain the act
"The poor and illiterate still have belief in black magic and occult practices. They flock to the godmen who assure prosperity and a better life. Since our place is on the fringe of Jolarpet, the skulls could have been thrown here," Ramesh explained.
Police have launched an investigation
The police, who reached the village on learning of the incident, buried the skulls in the graveyard's corner. When asked why weren't they sent for forensic examination, Kodiyur sub-inspector T Moorthy said the skulls were decaying. They appeared to have been dug out as they had mud on them, he claimed. He said they have launched an investigation to nab the miscreants.
Separately, villagers are also being counseled
Meanwhile, Tirupattur tehsildar V Sathyamoorthy said, "We have informed the villagers not be afraid over this incident. We have counseled them to get rid of their unfounded fear."
