Bhubaneswar, July 31: The world of ghosts and spirits evokes a sense of fear in most people. But unfolding the mysteries of the paranormal world is the ultimate passion for 23-year-old Sarbajeet Mohanty.
A certified demonologist from the US, Sarbajeet is a part of the Indian Paranormal Team (IPT) that offers solutions to people experiencing paranormal activities around them. The team consists of 18 members based in various places across the country.
Sarbajeet and Akshai Sthalekar, another young demonologist based in Pune, got to know each other on Facebook. Their common interest in studying paranormal activities got them along like a house on fire and they formed the IPT in 2013.
"In our country, people find it very hard to believe that paranormal activities can be reasoned and there are also solutions to it. People flock to black magicians and sadhu babas when they come across paranormal activities - this needs to change," said Sarbajeet.
"Initially, we helped people with quick solutions to their paranormal problems on the Internet. Gradually, more people came to know about us, and we began taking up cases. We started visiting spots for investigation and providing solutions right away," Sarbajeet said.
Four investigators, who are based in places such as Sundargarh, Jharsuguda and Cuttack, assist Sarbajeet, who, along with his team, has already handled over 10 cases in the state.
"A number of people residing in the urban areas have also contacted us. Their problems range from hearing eerie sounds at night to witnessing shadows passing by," Sarbajeet said.
Combining a number of scientific methods and spiritual healing, Sarbajeet and his team try to unfurl the ambiguities of the world surrounding spirits and negative energies.
The scientific devices used by the team during ghost-hunting include electromagnetic field detectors, electronic voice phenomenon (EVP) recorders, ecovox (a mobile application for abnormal sound detection) and motion censors. All of these devises are brought from foreign countries.
"The investigation begins with the detection of spirits or energies using the devices. After reaching the spot, we set up the devices. If the reports are confirmed, we begin the process of spiritual cleansing. The detection takes time, but the healing is done in an hour," said Sarbajeet.
They are also in touch with popular paranormal investigators across the country to keep them updated with the latest developments in the field. Some investigators extend their helping hands when Sarbajeet's team finds it hard to crack certain paranormal cases.
At present, Sarbajeet's team is planning to conduct exclusive workshops on the mystery behind paranormal activities in the state, especially in the rural areas, apart from opening an institute offering courses on paranormal investigations.
