Toddler dies in exorcism

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