Police on the lookout for 'seer'

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 25: Police are looking for a woman Uposi Haldar, who allegedly has been provoking locals against an old lady, portraying her as a witch at Kotwali village in English Bazaar police station. It is alleged that Uposi Haldar, a devotee of Maa Manosa (snake goddess according to Hindu mythology) and considered a seer by some proclaimed that the old woman Shanti Biswas was casting an evil spell on her neighbours. According to her, the old woman had also come across some lost treasure.Uposi, who offers prayers to the snake goddess every Tuesday and Saturday at a temple located in front of a rural bank at Kotwali is known for claiming that she was clairvoyant with the blessings of the snake goddess. Her act to proclaim Shanti Biswas a witch came during one of her recent sermons when hundreds of locals had arrived to offer prayers at the temple and consult her about their problems.Learning of the development, apprehensive family members of Shanti Biswas including her son Adhir Biswas urged local educated residents to speak to the villagers on the issue and convince them against believing such drivel. Wary, the secretary of the Malda Ram Krishna Mission, Swami Divyananda, informed media persons about the incident and asked them to intimate the police and ensure the family did not come to harm.According to the RKM official, Adhir, a hard working youth has established himself well through sheer commitment in the last few years, which seems to have turned Uposi jealous and therefore the high drama. The police have also learnt of the matter following which, the Malda superintendent of police Mr Dilip Kumar Mondal has ordered an inquiry into it. The inspector in-charge of English Bazaar collected necessary information and raided the house of Uposi but she is absconding. The police have posted plain cloth men at different spots including the temple where Uposi offered her prayers and her house.