A 9-year-old girl was beaten to death with a cane during an exorcism in Sri Lanka, police said.
The girl’s mother and the woman he hired to ward off an evil spirit from the girl were arrested and appeared in court on Monday, following the fatal ceremony over the weekend.
The victim’s mother believed the girl was possessed by a demon and took her to the exorcist’s house in Delgoda, according to officials.
During the ritual, the exorcist put oil on the girl and beat her repeatedly with a stick. She lost consciousness and died at the hospital, police said.
Police in the area are investigating whether the suspect, known for advertising demonic casting services, abused someone else.
With AP