An elderly woman was subjected to brutal torture by a group of relatives who accused her of practising witchcraft in Jabariya village under the Barhi police station area of Hazaribagh in Jharkhand.
The incident occurred late on the night of July 18 and continued until the early hours of July 19.
According to the complaint filed by the victim on July 20, seven people from her own family forcibly entered her home at around 10 pm. They accused her of being a witch, stripped her, beat her mercilessly, and slashed various parts of her body with a blade.
The FIR also mentions that the accused collected the woman’s blood, allegedly to perform a ritual.
The woman alleged that the attackers demanded ₹80,000 from her and forcefully took ₹20,000. After torturing her for hours, the accused took her to Barhi market in an injured condition and abandoned her there.
Despite her critical state, she managed to walk back home and later approached the police along with her son to file a formal complaint.
Barhi police have confirmed the arrest of one accused, Shambhu Yadav, who has been sent to jail. A search operation is underway to locate and apprehend the remaining six suspects.
“This is a deeply disturbing case. We are investigating from all angles and will ensure strict action against everyone involved,” said the officer-in-charge of Barhi Police Station.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation, shedding light on the persistent belief in witchcraft and the violence it fuels, particularly against women in rural areas. Police have assured that no accused will be spared.
Follow us
