Kendrapara, Odisha, India: An Indian couple has been arrested in Saudi Arabia on charges of practising black magic, official sources said here on Monday.
Saikh Nizam and Noor Jehan, originally from the east Indian state Odisha’s Kendrapara township, had moved to the town of Turba a few years ago where it is claimed that they were healers and mystics.
The couple was arrested last month after authorities reportedly found a variety of occult items in their possession, including herbs, the Indian consulate in Jeddah said.
Raj Kumar, the community welfare officer at the consulate, said over the phone, “The couple had allegedly resorted to black magic and a complaint in this regard had been lodged by their Saudi employer in Turba town near Jeddah.”
He said they are in detention and are facing trial as per Saudi law. If found guilty, they may have to undergo a minimum of two years’ imprisonment.
After the couple was arrested, their six children were left alone in their rented house.
They were flown back to their hometown here last week by the Indian consulate after some expatriates raised the issue.
The children, the eldest hardly 12 years old and youngest hardly 18 months, are now staying in their paternal uncle’s house here.
