Paranormal hired to expel mysterious dogs

Paranormal hired to expel mysterious dogs

TASIKMALAYA, West Java: A district chief in West Java hired a paranormal from Yogyakarta to drive off dogs believed to be attacking livestock in the area, Antara reported.

Heri Bimanto, the Karangnunggal district chief in the Tasikmalaya regency, said he and the residents hired the paranormal because the dogs had killed at least 350 goats and hundreds of chickens and other heads of livestock.

The situation has upset residents ahead of the Islamic Day of Sacrifice, because there are few goats and heads of livestock left in the area to sacrifice.

The situation has forced some resident to keep their livestock in their houses. Other residents are sleeping in their barns to protect their livestock.

The residents agreed to hire a paranormal to drive off the dogs.

The paranormal, identified as Eyang Jayaningrat, is performing rituals in a forest in the district.

He said the dogs belonged to a person who is attempting to gain supernatural power.

"This can be seen as hundreds of goats were attacked only on certain parts of their body, such as their hearts and legs," he said.

Koran Tempo daily reported that the dogs did not eat the goats, but only bit them to death.

One resident killed a dog believed to be one of the attackers. It was described as having red fur and standing 80 centimeters long and 30 centimeters high.

An animal husbandry division in the district has yet to identify the dog. The local military said they did not plan to hunt the dogs because "the area is too large".

District officers are patrolling the area to protect the local livestock. -- JP