In a shocking incident driven by superstition and blind belief, a seven-year-old boy was brutally murdered in Jharkhand’s Khunti district after being accused of witchcraft. The incident took place under the jurisdiction of Maranghda police station.
Police have arrested two accused in connection with the crime — 55-year-old Raghu Munda and 25-year-old Jagarnath Munda alias Jagra Munda. According to the police, Raghu Munda suspected that black magic practised by Laxman Munda was responsible for the death of his own son, who had died due to illness a few days earlier.
Blinded by superstition and a desire for revenge, Raghu Munda, along with Jagarnath Munda, allegedly targeted Laxman Munda’s seven-year-old son. The accused lured the child on the pretext of giving him chocolates and then brutally assaulted him, killing him by repeatedly striking him with the wooden handle of a spade.
Following the recovery of the child’s body, a case was registered at Maranghda police station on the basis of the statement given by the victim’s father, Laxman Munda.
Acting swiftly under the leadership of Officer-in-Charge Vikas Kumar Jaiswal, the police detained several suspects and subsequently cracked the case. During interrogation, both accused confessed to the crime.
Providing details, Maranghda Police Station Officer-in-Charge Vikas Kumar Jaiswal said that Maranghda PS Case No. 02/2026 was registered on January 23 under Sections 103(1) and 238(A) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with Sections 3 and 4 of the Witchcraft Prevention Act.
Based on the disclosure made by the accused, the police recovered the spade used in the murder. Blood-stained soil, leaves from the crime scene and a pair of slippers belonging to the deceased child were also seized.
Police officials said that the investigation was assisted by local Mukhiya Soma Munda of Hunt and villagers from Bandadih.
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