Balasore/Baripada, Sept. 5: Police have arrested two tantrics in rape cases.

Balasore police arrested a 42-year-old man on charges of raping a 20-year-old woman. The accused, Gopinath Das, is a native of Karanjia block of Mayurbhanj district and has been residing at Oupada for the past 15 years. He claimed to be able to cure people through black magic.

However, the victim alleged that he had established a physical relationship with her on the pretext of performing the tantric rites for her treatment.

Sub-divisional police officer S.R. Mohapatra rushed to the village and took Das into custody. "The accused confessed to the crime during interrogation. He has been produced in court today," said Mohapatra.

In another development, Mayurbhanj police arrested a 49-year-old black magician for sexually assaulting a 42-year-old married woman. The police arrested Ramchandra Murmu of Rangiama village following a complaint by the victim.

The victim alleged that the tantric had raped her several times on the pretext of performing a special puja in her house. She told the police that she had been to the tantric to find relief from domestic issues, land dispute and health problems. She said that whenever the accused would came to perform a special puja, he would ask her husband and other family members to leave her alone in a room with him.