Ranchi, May 18: Despite government claims of awareness drive assault on whiff of witchcraft suspicion continues in hinterlands of tribal Jharkhand state.
A husband, wife and son were beaten up in Gumla district on the charges of witch-hunting. The whole family was attacked with sticks, knives and swords and badly injured. The villagers saved the lives of the family. After this, they were admitted to the hospital. The police have registered a case. The accused have threatened to kill the whole family if they complain to the police station.
The case took place under Ghaghra police station area of Gumla district.
Lakshmi Devi (60 years), resident of Sehal Barang village, her husband Peer Mahto (65 years) and her son Sakaldeep Mahto (35 years) were badly injured by some people of the village by hitting them with sticks, swords and knives on the charge of witchcraft.
All the injured have been admitted to Ghaghra Hospital. The accused have threatened to kill the entire family if they complain to the police station. Police station in-charge Puneet Minj said that the victim’s side has given an application. An FIR has been registered. The accused will be arrested soon.
The victim Lakshmi Devi said that the son of Sikandar Mahato of the same village is often ill. Instead of showing his illness to a doctor, he accuses her of witchcraft.
On Saturday night her family was preparing to sleep after dinner. Then Sikandar Mahato and other people of the village, armed with sticks, swords and knives attacked her family.
Hearing the screams, her husband Peer Mahato and his son Sakaldeep Mahato came to save her, but they were also attacked. After this, everyone fell on the ground injured. The villagers somehow saved their lives. The police is investigating the entire matter.
