Child beaten to death at a witchcraft ritual centre

COLOMBO(News 1st): Mohamed Rinath Fathima Rizka, a resident of Kanduboda was taken to a witchcraft ritual centre after she was said to have been possessed by a demonic spirit. According to area residents said the shaman at the witchcraft ritual centre had assaulted the child asking the demon to leave the child. Area residents alerted authorities afterwards. However, when police arrived at the scene the child had already passed away. The Mahara acting magistrate Wasantha Ramanayake conducted the magisterial inquiry at the scene of the crime. The youngest in a family of 3, Fathima Rizka was 9 years old at the time of her untimely demise. The mother of the deceased child and the female shaman who is said to have conducted the ritual was taken into police custody.