In Telangana’s Gollagudem Village, Clash Over Evil Eye Ritual Leads To Physical Violence

In today’s modern world, superstitions still hold significant influence, as shown by a recent event in Gollagudem village, within the Tekmal Panchayat of Medak district (Telangana). Despite progress in science, rural areas continue to adhere to age-old beliefs, leading to situations like this. In Gollagudem village, a woman conducted a ritual to ward off evil eye and threw the ritual items onto a village road. When the villagers noticed this, they panicked and assaulted three people involved. A villager named Ramulu had been married to Venkatalakshmi from Navipet for many years. The couple had a simple yet meaningful livelihood, dedicating their lives to the tradition of narrating Oggu Kathas, a form of folk storytelling that is deeply rooted in their culture. These stories, often centred around deities and heroes, were passed down through generations. Ramulu and Venkatalakshmi carried on this legacy by performing these tales from door to door in neighbouring villages.

Life took a turn when Ramulu suddenly fell ill. His condition worsened over time, and despite receiving treatment at the local hospital, his health showed little improvement. Venkatalakshmi, deeply worried about her husband’s deteriorating health, began to suspect that his illness was not merely physical but might be the result of the evil eye or some form of malevolent influence, which is a common belief in their community.

Venkatalakshmi approached Gangamma, a woman known in the village for her supposed ability to perform rituals that ward off evil spirits and negative energies. Gangamma agreed to help and conducted a ritual designed to remove the evil eye from Ramulu. The ritual involved various traditional items and practices that were meant to cleanse Ramulu of any negative influences.

After the ritual, they discarded the ritual items on the road, causing alarm among the villagers. This situation quickly escalated into a heated argument, leading to a physical attack on Venkatalakshmi, Gangamma, and even ailing Ramulu, who sustained severe injuries. The police arrived at the scene, took the injured to the hospital, and registered a case to start an investigation. The attack is believed to have been prompted by the villagers’ fear of the ritual items.