Not for Covid, but to get rid of flesh-eating demon, Andhra village goes under lockdown

To get rid of 'Pishacha' (evil spirits)  residents of a village in Andhra Pradesh went under a lockdown on their own. Residents of Vennelavalasa village imposed a lockdown on themselves after the mysterious death of four locals in under one month.

The government office in the village was also closed. No outsider was allowed in the village, which had erected fences to keep out people. Even the school and Anganwadi centres were closed, as employees, medical staff and teachers were not allowed.

The village is located under the Sarubujjili Mandal of the Srikakulam district and shares a border with Odisha. The villagers believe that a lockdown will work against the evil spirits.

According to the locals, some people in the village have been suffering from fever for the last few days and four lives have already been lost. Villagers



believe it happened due to evil spirits which are on the prowl in the village.

The village elders reportedly consulted priests from Odisha and the neighbouring Vizianagaram district, who suggested a lockdown. As advised by the priests, lemons were planted in four directions of the village and a lockdown was enforced from April 17 to 25.

The road leading to the village was also closed, and a warning sign was posted that outsiders were not allowed and those living in the village should also not leave home.

The incident has created a buzz in the district. While many questioned the practice, others believed in it.

The local authorities, including the police, visited the village to convince them to allow Anganwadi, the school and the village secretariat to open, which, after negotiations, were allowed to function.