A nine-year-old girl in Sri Lanka has been tragically killed after being brutally beaten during an exorcism ceremony.
Local police said Monday that they had arrested two people in connection with the death of the girl, who was repeatedly beaten during a ritual that "would ward off an evil spirit".
The two women arrested - the exorcist and the girl's mother
-they were due to appear in court today to learn of the charges against them over the death of a nine-year-old girl at the weekend in Delgoda, a small town about 40 kilometers northeast of Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo.
According to the police spokesperson, the mother believed that her daughter had been possessed by a demon and led her to the exorcist's house to cast out the ghost.
A police spokesman said the exorcist first poured oil on the girl and then started beating her repeatedly with a cane.
When the girl lost consciousness, she was taken to hospital, where a short time later, she died.
The woman who performed the ritual on the girl has been known in the area for offering such services in recent months and police are investigating whether anyone else was also abused.
via: e-Daily