Police in Sri Lanka said on Monday they have arrested two people in connection with the death of a 9-year-old girl who was beaten repeatedly during a ritual they believed would drive away an evil spirit. The two suspects – the woman who carried out the exorcism and the girl’s mother – were scheduled to appear in court on Monday to hear charges of the girl’s death, which took place over the weekend in Delgoda, a small town about 25 miles (40 kilometers). northeast of the capital Colombo.
Sudath Pubudu Keerthi / AP
Police spokesman Ajith Rohana said the mother believed her daughter was possessed by a demon and took her to the exorcist’s house so that a ritual could be performed to scare away the ghost.
Rohana said the exorcist first smeared oil on the girl and then started hitting her repeatedly with a stick. When the girl lost consciousness, she was taken to a hospital, where she died. An autopsy was scheduled for Monday.
The woman who performed the ritual on the girl was known in the area for providing such services in recent months, and police were investigating whether anyone else had been 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.