(Compiled from posts – Adapted)
Antigua – Police say they have arrested two Indian nationals “for being involved in the practice of Obeah”. Criminal charges have been filed against two of three Indian visitors who were allegedly engaging in the illegal practice of obeah in Antigua & Barbuda.
Manjunath Govindappa of Prince Klaas Street and Sandeep Gangadharaiah are each accused of professing to tell fortunes by supernatural practices and for publishing pamphlets to promote the superstition of obeah. Attorney General Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin said the two men would be sent out of the country.
The police said that several pieces of evidential materials, believed to be used in the practicing of obeah, were found at the property and confiscated pending further investigations into the matter.
Their arrest followed a public outcry from residents who expressed fears that the presence of a self-proclaimed “Indian Astrologer” and “Priest” would invite “unwanted evil to the country”.
On Monday, members of an activist group, The Movement, visited the business place of the Indian men and told them to “pack up and go”.
Benjamin, who is also Labour Minister, said the two men would be sent out of the country because they had breached the terms upon which they were made to land in Antigua and Barbuda as well as breaching the Obeah Act of 1904.
“Obeah is against the laws of Antigua & Barbuda. There is an Act which indicates that obeah is unlawful when practiced in the state and nobody can make an application to practice an act which is unlawful,” Benjamin told OBSERVER media.
“We do not practice black magic in Antigua and we are going to stamp that out. We are a Christian society and I want to applaud the Christian community which got together and have moved forward to stop this practice.”
The Obeah Act defines “obeah as ordinarily understood and practised, and includes witchcraft and working or pretending to work by spells or by professed occult or supernatural power”.
If convicted of the first offence, the men could be fined up to $3,000 or be imprisoned for any period not exceeding six months in default under the Obeah Act, while, the second offence carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison.
Govindappa allegedly committed the offences between October 26 and November 10, 2015, while Gangaharaiah allegedly committed the offences between October 30 and November 10.
Both men are expected to appear in court on Monday.
Pic – Handcuffs
