Bhubaneswar, Feb. 11 -- Fear and superstition gripped a village in Uttar Pradesh's Auraiya district after a young woman vanished from her home, leaving behind what appeared to be a five-foot-long snake skin arranged on her bed, triggering bizarre rumours that she had transformed into a 'nagin'.

The incident came to light when family members noticed the woman had not stepped out of her room in the morning. On entering the room, they found a snake's shed skin carefully wrapped in clothes and placed on the bed, a sight that left them shocked and prompted widespread speculation among villagers.

As word spread, panic set in, and residents began linking the disappearance to supernatural causes. With confusion mounting, the family alerted poli...