Jharkhand Shocker: Tribal Woman Set On Fire On Suspicion Of 'Witchcraft'

In a village of Jharkhand, a tribal woman was allegedly beaten up and set on fire by her neighbours on Wednesday, the police said.

According to reports, the incident took place in the Simdega district of Jharkhand on Wednesday night. The police have arrested six persons in the case and the woman is being treated at a hospital in the state capital Ranchi. The 60-year-old woman named Jhario reportedly received 30 per cent burns before she was rescued by other villagers. She was taken to Simdega district hospital then she was transferred to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences.

Jharkhand Woman Set Ablaze:

Shams Tabrez, superintendent of police, Simdega, said, "The incident happened in Kurpaani village under Tethaitangar police station limits between 9-10 pm on Wednesday. Police rushed to the spot after getting information, but by then her relatives and villagers had already taken her to Simdega district hospital. Doctors said she had around 30 percent burns. She has been referred to RIMS for better treatment."

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The woman and her son filed a complaint with the police after which six persons were arrested. The officials said that the woman along with her husband had visited the house of a person named Florence Dungung for religious rites after the latter's wife died. Florence alleged the Jhario practised witchcraft and called her responsible for his wife's death. He then started beating Jhario along with others and then allegedly set her on fire after pouring kerosene oil on her, the police said. When Jhario cried for help, other villagers rushed and rescued. The officials added that Jhario's case is the second of this nature in the district in January.

A similar incident took place on January 4 when a man named Sanju Pradhan was allegedly beaten up and set on fire by a group of people in a village under Kolebira police station. The accused persons alleged that Pradhan was illegally felling. 13 persons were named as accused in the case out of which only nine have been arrested. On December 21 last year, the Jharkhand assembly had passed a law against lynching, but it is yet to be notified.