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Girl, 9, dies after mum performs sickening exorcism ritual on her

A nine-year-old girl has died after she was repeatedly beaten with a cane during an 'exorcism' ritual.

Police have arrested two people in connection to the girl's death, The Associated Press reported, one of which was the girl's mother, the other was the woman who conducted the ritual.

The girl died on February 27 in Delgoda, a small town about 40km northeast of Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo.

The mother believed her daughter had been possessed by a demon and took her to the exorcist, believing she could drive the spirit away, police spokesman Ajith Rohana said.

Sri Lankan magistrate Wasantha Ramanayake, right and police officers inspect outside a house where a nine year old girl was canned to death in Delgoda. Source: AP
Sri Lankan magistrate Wasantha Ramanayake, right and police officers inspect outside a house where a nine year old girl was canned to death in Delgoda. Source: AP

According to local paper, Adaderana, the exorcist put some oil on the child and then beat her with a cane to "expel the demon within her".

During the ritual, the girl lost consciousness and was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

She later died at Biyagama Hospital and an autopsy was scheduled for Monday.

Rohana said the woman who performed the ritual was known within the area for offering exorcism services in recent months.

Police were investigating whether anyone else had been abused and Rohana urged the public to be careful of such services, as the young girl was not the first to die during such a ritual.

With Associated Press

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