Couple burned alive for "black magic"

[almaty 19]

HYDERABAD, India (Reuters) - An elderly Indian husband and wife were burnt to death after villagers accused them of practicing black magic, tied them together on a pyre and set them on fire, police said Thursday.

"The aged couple died screaming for help," said police superintendent P.V. Sunil Kumar.

Sayanna, 70, and his 61-year-old wife, Pochamma, were set ablaze after being doused with kerosene.

Both were farm laborers near the southern city of Hyderabad who also practiced traditional medicine. Police have arrested six villagers for the incident.

Belief in black magic is common in some parts of rural India, despite the country's robust economic growth and cutting-edge high-technology industries.

Dozens of women are murdered each year after being accused of witchcraft.

Last year, a barber in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh killed his four-year-old son by slitting his throat with a razor after the man started seeing visions of the Hindu goddess Kali demanding a sacrifice.

[JODO 2]

This is terrible.

[Robor007 0]

I'm glad ####### like that could never happen in the US. Oh wait...

I hope they burn alive the 6 who did it.

[Mags 112]

I'm glad ####### like that could never happen in the US. Oh wait...

I hope they burn alive the 6 who did it.

Actually, there were no witches burned in the US. "The Burning Times", as it is referred to by plastic Pagans who want to feel all "oh we have suffered for our beliefs", didn't actually happen. The women accused of witchcraft were all hung and one was pressed to death.

There were "witches" burned in Europe however, mainly in Spain (Spanish Inquisition) with some others scattered throughout Europe. Even Britain didn't burn "witches", Matthew Hopkins (The Witchfinder General) ordered them hung.

It's a common misconception, makes for better reading perhaps.

[Fandango 1,440]

Wow I read 'India' as 'Indiana'

Musta been mags bein the last poster or summat

As to the article, that's fkin sick! And too horrific for words, really...

[Mags 112]

Wow I read 'India' as 'Indiana'

Musta been mags bein the last poster or summat

Well, I do get called an old witch on occasion!

[Robor007 0]

I'm glad ####### like that could never happen in the US. Oh wait...

I hope they burn alive the 6 who did it.

Actually, there were no witches burned in the US. "The Burning Times", as it is referred to by plastic Pagans who want to feel all "oh we have suffered for our beliefs", didn't actually happen. The women accused of witchcraft were all hung and one was pressed to death.

There were "witches" burned in Europe however, mainly in Spain (Spanish Inquisition) with some others scattered throughout Europe. Even Britain didn't burn "witches", Matthew Hopkins (The Witchfinder General) ordered them hung.

It's a common misconception, makes for better reading perhaps.

What about the test where they see if the 'witch' floated or not? Were they drowned or was that just the test?

[Ban Hammer 13,633]

I'm glad ####### like that could never happen in the US. Oh wait...

I hope they burn alive the 6 who did it.

Actually, there were no witches burned in the US. "The Burning Times", as it is referred to by plastic Pagans who want to feel all "oh we have suffered for our beliefs", didn't actually happen. The women accused of witchcraft were all hung and one was pressed to death.

There were "witches" burned in Europe however, mainly in Spain (Spanish Inquisition) with some others scattered throughout Europe. Even Britain didn't burn "witches", Matthew Hopkins (The Witchfinder General) ordered them hung.

It's a common misconception, makes for better reading perhaps.

what was that in monty python? witches burn, she must be made of wood, so throw her in the pond. if she floats, she's a witch!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The "good old days" eh?

Matthew Hopkins (Witchfinder General) was born not too far from where I used to live...

[Mags 112]

I'm glad ####### like that could never happen in the US. Oh wait...

I hope they burn alive the 6 who did it.

Actually, there were no witches burned in the US. "The Burning Times", as it is referred to by plastic Pagans who want to feel all "oh we have suffered for our beliefs", didn't actually happen. The women accused of witchcraft were all hung and one was pressed to death.

There were "witches" burned in Europe however, mainly in Spain (Spanish Inquisition) with some others scattered throughout Europe. Even Britain didn't burn "witches", Matthew Hopkins (The Witchfinder General) ordered them hung.

It's a common misconception, makes for better reading perhaps.

What about the test where they see if the 'witch' floated or not? Were they drowned or was that just the test?

If they drowned they were not a witch, if they survived they were and got hung. Rather pointless, you might as well just drown! There was also a thing called a ducking stool, where they sat a woman on a seat and ducked her in the water. That was more a punishment though, tended to be for "sharp-tongued" women, or "scolds" as they were referred to.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I'm glad ####### like that could never happen in the US. Oh wait...

I hope they burn alive the 6 who did it.

Actually, there were no witches burned in the US. "The Burning Times", as it is referred to by plastic Pagans who want to feel all "oh we have suffered for our beliefs", didn't actually happen. The women accused of witchcraft were all hung and one was pressed to death.

There were "witches" burned in Europe however, mainly in Spain (Spanish Inquisition) with some others scattered throughout Europe. Even Britain didn't burn "witches", Matthew Hopkins (The Witchfinder General) ordered them hung.

It's a common misconception, makes for better reading perhaps.

What about the test where they see if the 'witch' floated or not? Were they drowned or was that just the test?

Its true - they threw you in the water with your hands tied and if you sank (and drowned) you were innocent. If you floated it mean't you were guilty and were either burned or hanged - usually with a good measure of torture thrown in.

If they drowned they were not a witch, if they survived they were and got hung. Rather pointless, you might as well just drown! There was also a thing called a ducking stool, where they sat a woman on a seat and ducked her in the water. That was more a punishment though, tended to be for "sharp-tongued" women, or "scolds" as they were referred to.

There's a few local museums that still have ducking stools.

[Robor007 0]

I'm glad ####### like that could never happen in the US. Oh wait...

I hope they burn alive the 6 who did it.

Actually, there were no witches burned in the US. "The Burning Times", as it is referred to by plastic Pagans who want to feel all "oh we have suffered for our beliefs", didn't actually happen. The women accused of witchcraft were all hung and one was pressed to death.

There were "witches" burned in Europe however, mainly in Spain (Spanish Inquisition) with some others scattered throughout Europe. Even Britain didn't burn "witches", Matthew Hopkins (The Witchfinder General) ordered them hung.

It's a common misconception, makes for better reading perhaps.

What about the test where they see if the 'witch' floated or not? Were they drowned or was that just the test?

If they drowned they were not a witch, if they survived they were and got hung. Rather pointless, you might as well just drown! There was also a thing called a ducking stool, where they sat a woman on a seat and ducked her in the water. That was more a punishment though, tended to be for "sharp-tongued" women, or "scolds" as they were referred to.

I thought that's how it worked but couldn't remember for sure. What a messed up 'test'.

[Mags 112]

The "good old days" eh?

Matthew Hopkins (Witchfinder General) was born not too far from where I used to live...

Erekose ~ You an Essex boy then?

I'm glad ####### like that could never happen in the US. Oh wait...

I hope they burn alive the 6 who did it.

Actually, there were no witches burned in the US. "The Burning Times", as it is referred to by plastic Pagans who want to feel all "oh we have suffered for our beliefs", didn't actually happen. The women accused of witchcraft were all hung and one was pressed to death.

There were "witches" burned in Europe however, mainly in Spain (Spanish Inquisition) with some others scattered throughout Europe. Even Britain didn't burn "witches", Matthew Hopkins (The Witchfinder General) ordered them hung.

It's a common misconception, makes for better reading perhaps.

What about the test where they see if the 'witch' floated or not? Were they drowned or was that just the test?

Its true - they threw you in the water with your hands tied and if you sank (and drowned) you were innocent. If you floated it mean't you were guilty and were either burned or hanged - usually with a good measure of torture thrown in.

Burning was only used for Catholics or Protestants, never witches. Matthew Hopkins hung 19 "witches" and four died in prison, mainly due to age. The majority of the women he sentenced to death were older women.

Edited May 3, 2007 by mags

[almaty 19]

sister mags, it was a terrible and horrid way to die and sadly, in my readings allot of them suffered from seizures or mental illness

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The "good old days" eh?

Matthew Hopkins (Witchfinder General) was born not too far from where I used to live...

Erekose ~ You an Essex boy then?

I'm glad ####### like that could never happen in the US. Oh wait...

I hope they burn alive the 6 who did it.

Actually, there were no witches burned in the US. "The Burning Times", as it is referred to by plastic Pagans who want to feel all "oh we have suffered for our beliefs", didn't actually happen. The women accused of witchcraft were all hung and one was pressed to death.

There were "witches" burned in Europe however, mainly in Spain (Spanish Inquisition) with some others scattered throughout Europe. Even Britain didn't burn "witches", Matthew Hopkins (The Witchfinder General) ordered them hung.

It's a common misconception, makes for better reading perhaps.

What about the test where they see if the 'witch' floated or not? Were they drowned or was that just the test?

Its true - they threw you in the water with your hands tied and if you sank (and drowned) you were innocent. If you floated it mean't you were guilty and were either burned or hanged - usually with a good measure of torture thrown in.

Burning was only used for Catholics or Protestants, never witches. Matthew Hopkins hung 19 "witches" and four died in prison, mainly due to age. The majority of the women he sentenced to death were older women.

When Catholicism was outlawed they used to hang, draw and quarter catholic priests on the spot for conducting an "illegal mass". Interesting example of early terrorism that - with the whole Guy Fawlkes thing.