Soro: In a shocking incident, a person of Soro area in Odisha's Balasore district tried to sacrifice his niece, a minor girl, under the influence of a sorcerer with a belief of getting cured from illness by doing so.

According to reports, Kailash Mallick of Panchapadi village under Manipur panchayat in Soro block of the district was undergoing illness. He later consulted a sorcerer of Udala area in Mayurbhanj district who told him to sacrifice an unmarried girl for cure.

Blindly believing the sorcerer, Kailash along with his associate attempted to abduct his niece, a college student, last night. Hearing screams of the girl, villagers reached the spot and nabbed the duo.

The two were later handed over to police by the locals. Police have detained three persons, including the sorcerer, in connection with the incident for interrogation.