Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Sep 1: A few evil spirits have chosen Daila higher primary school of Rayi village in the taluk, as their play ground-cum-laboratory. During the last two years, the students of this school have often behaved strangely, leading the concerned to conclude that the children were under the influence of spirits.

Religious procedures in connection with the installation of the seat of a demi-god named 'Guliga Daiva' in the school premises were performed by a group of about 15 scholars from Mangalore. Guliga is a demi-god widely revered and worshipped in the area. The concerned believe that the installation of the demi-god will rid the school of the problems created by petty spirits too.

Some children of the school have behaved erratically at times, since the last two years. The students who suddenly seemed like having been overtaken by some alien spirits, used to shiver out of fear, started shrieking as if they had come across something extremely fearful and fainted all of a sudden. During this year, 12 children experienced this trouble. When the astrologers were contacted, they came out with the theory, that the seat of 'Guliga Daiva' which existed here, had been desecrated and that the angered demi-god is creating havoc.  In addition, some petty spirits too joined to make lives of the students miserable, they concluded. The problem had become complex since the last several months, as one or the other student used to start behaving strangely at times.

Terror-stricken parents of the children used to pressure the headmaster to issue transfer certificates for their children, as they got scared of the growing incidents of erratic behaviour in the school.  The school betterment committee, realizing the seriousness of the issue, informed the gram panchayat authorities of the problem and took steps to redress the problem in a way the committee and panchayat members thought fit.

Some people reportedly informed a news channel from Mangalore and the local police station about these attempts of the school managements, but when they approached the school, the management was able to convince them of the steps being taken by it. It is learnt that the expenses incurred with the rituals thereto were met by the villagers. Parents of a few children are taking various measures on their own at individual levels, to ensure that the spirits do not bother their children any more.