Witchcraft Allegation Leads to Fatal Attack on Tribal Woman in Chhattisgarh
A 48-year-old tribal woman was allegedly killed in a brutal superstition-linked attack in Chhattisgarh’s Jashpur district after being accused of practising witchcraft. Police have arrested her husband, two women, and another man, all tribals, in connection with the case.
Details of the Incident in Gatti Mahua Village
The incident took place in Gatti Mahua village in the Sanna region. Police identified the victim as Goidi Bai, 48, wife of Thoopan Ram, 45. The case came to light on March 6, when the woman’s brother, Sahlu Ram, informed police that she was found dead in her house.
During a spot inspection, police discovered blood stains on and around the body and noticed serious injuries to the woman’s private parts, indicating murder. An autopsy report confirmed that the death was homicidal and caused by grievous injuries inflicted with a hard and blunt object.
Confession and Sequence of Events Leading to the Murder
During questioning, one of the accused, Phula Bai, described as the victim’s co-wife, allegedly told police that she had a quarrel and scuffle with Goidi Bai on March 5. In her confession, she stated that she and her husband Thoopan later went towards the fields, where their friends Sunil Ram, 23, and his wife Suranti Bai, 22, were sitting in a hut.
Some time later, Goidi Bai also went in that direction to wash utensils. According to a police statement, Thoopan called the victim into the hut, where the four accused consumed haria, a locally brewed drink. During this time, Sunil Ram allegedly accused the woman of practising witchcraft and blamed her for his family’s troubles, including being childless and his father’s cancer.
Brutal Assault and Attempt to Conceal the Crime
Police said Sunil Ram then allegedly grabbed the victim by the hair and threw her to the ground, while Thoopan Ram and Phula Bai held her hands and legs. Investigators further alleged that the accused used a wooden stick in the assault, causing injuries that led to the woman’s death on the spot.
After the killing, the accused allegedly carried the body back to the house, placed it on a bed, and covered it with a blanket in an apparent attempt to conceal the crime. All four were arrested under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Chhattisgarh Witchcraft Atrocities (Prevention) Act.
Investigation and Legal Actions
Police stated that the case was cracked based on witness statements, interrogation, and medical evidence. The incident highlights the persistent issue of superstition-based violence in tribal areas, despite legal measures in place to prevent such atrocities.
This brutal attack underscores the urgent need for increased awareness and enforcement of laws against witchcraft accusations and related violence in Chhattisgarh and other regions where such beliefs prevail.
