Brothers Assaulted For "Witchcraft" In Jharkhand, Woman Mukhiya Named In FIR

Brothers Assaulted For Witchcraft: In a village in the Gumla district of Jharkhand, two brothers were allegedly beaten by the neighbours on accounts of their parents practising witchcraft. The incident took place when the brothers were returning home after New Year's celebration. The police have arrested six people in connection with the case, including the woman mukhiya of Lekeya village panchayat.

On the night of January 1, the brothers were allegedly tied to a pole and beaten with sticks and bricks. They belong to a tribal community from the area. The police have charged the accused persons under sections of the Indian Penal Code and Anti-Witchcraft law of 2001.

The Sub-Division Police Officer of Gumla  Manish Chand Lal informed news media on the injuries of the brothers and said that Sanjay and Ajay Oraon were between with sticks and bricks, they have received "grievous" injuries.

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Sanjay, the elder brother of the two suffered injuries in his back and face while the younger one Ajay suffered head injuries and one of his eyes was gouged. Ajay works as a labourer in Tamil Nadu and was only back home to celebrate New Year. Although, this is not the first time that the brothers and their family has been a target of the villagers and panchayat mukhiya, Sugima Devi.

The harassment started after their first cousin died while working at a factory in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The brothers were taken to a quack and allegedly told that their parents had a ghost in their house. According to Sanjay, the quack suggested that the family should either be cast out or killed to avoid trouble to the village. He also alleged that the mukhiya, instead of helping the brothers out, incited violence against them. He further accused the mob of assaulting his parents and sister as well, when they tried to intervene.

The police later took them to the community health centre in Sisai and the younger brother was transferred to Sadar Hospital in Gumla. Since there was no eye doctor available, Sanjay alleges, they are waiting for the doctor to arrive on January 4, today.

Similar Witchcraft and Witch-Hunting Incidents

- According to the National Crime Record Bureau data for 2019, Jharkhand ranks third in India for witch-hunting. On October 27 last year, a 55-year-old woman was allegedly beaten to death by her neighbours for allegedly practising black magic. Her half-naked body was found the next day. Two people were arrested by the police in connection with the incident. Read more about it here.

- In May the same year, a 75-year-old woman was allegedly killed by her neighbour in Salami village of Gumla, Jharkhand after branding her of being a witch. On the night of the incident, the deceased woman was sitting outside her home when her neighbour, Pandu Oraon allegedly assaulted her. A similar attempt was made in 2018 too, recalled the son of the deceased when the accused had tried killing the woman. Read more about the incident here.

- In Purnea, Bihar, three women were branded as witches and were allegedly forced to drink human urine, in June 2021. Reportedly, the survivors were minor girls. The police arrested two persons in connection with the case. The survivors were visiting their cousin, whose wife was unwell when the locals in the area attacked them. They were allegedly locked and beaten by the accused people. Read more about the case here.