NEW KERALA (Kochi, India) 26 August 06 Uttar Pradesh villagers fear death from woman-turned-snake (Girish Kumar Dubey)
Azamgarh (Uttar Pradesh): It may sound like a classical sequence from a Bollywood movie, but villagers in Azadpur, Uttar Pradesh, have reported 18 incidents of snake bites over the past few days.
Residents in Azadpur village, which falls in Azamgarh District are spending sleepless nights in the wake of rumours that a jilted woman of the village has turned into a Naagin (female snake) to take revenge against the person she loved.
The rumour has gained solid ground among villagers after 18 died from snake bites by the so called “Ichchadhari Nagin” (or, a woman turned into a snake).
The villagers have approached Dutta Ram, a local spiritual healer, to save their lives from the snake. They believe he can cure them from snake bites.
Once bitten, a victim is immediately taken to Dutta Ram for treatment.
"It does not matter if one is a Hindu or a Muslim. Our motive is to get treated and be fine. So, the religion of the ojha (spiritual healer) does not matter as long as we are cured," said Pervez, a resident.
"First we give the victim neem (margosa) leaves. If he says it is bitter that means there is no poison in the snake bite but when he says it is sweet or sour, it indicates that there is something definitely wrong. We then bathe him with water reciting some mantras to cure him," said Dutta Ram.
According to Dutta Ram, the snake is actually the daughter of Jindh. This is the main ‘reason’ why she has been attacking the family members of her beloved after turning into a snake.
Although no one has actually watched the snake, the fear-stricken villagers have started believing in the said story.
"I don’t have any doubt on the is story. It is because of the woman’s anger that all these recurring events of snake-bite are taking place. We are now taking help from spiritual healers to save us from this problem. No one has seen her as she bites people only at night," said Mohammad Shahid, a graduate.
Uttar Pradesh villagers fear death from woman-turned-snake