Toddler dies in exorcism

JAKARTA: Four-year-old Anisa Nabila died early on Wednesday in Susukan subdistrict, East Jakarta, after the girl's family attempted to perform an "exorcism" on her. The cause of death is thought to be asphyxiation.

According to the Ciracas Police, the family was awakened at about 2 a.m. on Wednesday by Anisa's aunt, Dewi, who claimed that she and Anisa had been possessed by an evil spirit. Anisa was reportedly suffering convulsions at the time.

Anisa's grandmother, Rahayu, her parents, Faisal and Heni, and her uncle Hendri and auntie Yati, decided to try and drive this spirit out of Anisa's body, KompasCyberMedia reported on Thursday.

They circled the young girl and wrapped her up in clothes while Dewi slapped her in the face. They then covered Anisa and themselves with a tarpaulin.

"It was about 5:30 a.m. when we realized that Anisa was stiff. We took her to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital. The doctors there said that she was dead," her father, Faisal, said.

Neighbors, suspecting the little girl had been assaulted, reported her death to the police.

Ciracas Police chief Adj. Comr. Wijanarko said officers had questioned family members and were awaiting the results of Anisa's autopsy. -- JP