A court in Jharkhand's Jamtara district has delivered a stern verdict in a chilling case of murder driven by superstition. The Principal District and Sessions Judge, Radha Krishna, on Saturday sentenced three men to life imprisonment for killing a woman they suspected of practising witchcraft.
The Court's Verdict and Punishment
The court not only handed down life sentences to the three convicts but also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on each of them. This ruling comes after the same court had found the trio guilty of the crime on December 20 last year. The convicted individuals are Niranjan Mahto, Parimal Mahto, and Gangadhar Mahto, all residents of Bena village, which falls under the Jamtara town police station limits.
Details of the Crime
The gruesome murder took place on June 30, 2020. The victim, Meera Devi, was allegedly blamed by the accused for causing illnesses among villagers. In a horrifying prelude to the murder, the men had abused and threatened to kill Meera Devi just a day before they carried out the act. The case was registered based on a First Information Report (FIR) lodged by the deceased's son, Santosh Mahto.
Legal Proceedings and Witnesses
The prosecution built its case under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deals with murder. During the trial, the prosecution presented a total of 11 witnesses to establish the guilt of the accused. The court's decision to award life imprisonment underscores the severity with which the judiciary views crimes motivated by blind superstition and mob justice, particularly those targeting vulnerable individuals in rural areas.
The verdict sends a strong message against the persistent and dangerous practice of branding people, especially women, as witches, which often leads to violence and social ostracization in certain parts of the country.
