Bhubaneswar, March 11 -- An elderly man was allegedly assaulted by a group of villagers on suspicion of practising witchcraft in Odisha's Ganjam district, police said. Ten persons have been arrested in connection with the incident.

The incident occurred at Belpunji village under Bellaguntha police station limits. The injured man, identified as Sethi, a resident of Dhepa Sahi in Chadhiapalli, is a retired teacher. He sustained serious injuries in the attack and is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Berhampur.

According to reports, a few days before the incident, Sethi was allegedly seen performing rituals and chanting mantras late at night at the Thakurani temple in Belpunji village.

It is alleged that he was dressed in wom...