A police officer has been assaulted by four people over alleged witchcraft in Jharkhand
In Dumka district, Jharkhand, four people, including three women, were allegedly tied to poles, beaten with iron rods, and forced to consume human excreta for committing “witchcraft,” police said. In the Saraiyahat area, the incident occurred Sunday night.
Dumka SP A Lakra said six people who live in the same village as the victims have been arrested. There is an undercurrent of property dispute or illness in the incident. The motive, however, remains unclear,” the SP said.
Among the sections of the IPC that were registered were Section 448 (house trespass), Section 341 (wrongful restraint), Section 323 (voluntarily causing harm), Section 325 (causing grievous harm), Section 307 (attempt to murder), Section 504 (provocation to break public peace), Section 506 (criminal intimidation), Section 34 (common intent), and Sections of the Prevention of Witchcraft Act.
One of the women who was assaulted filed a police complaint on September 24, stating: “On September 24, at 8pm, my husband and I were abused and thrashed.” The dayans (witches) pushed us out of our homes. All of the attackers fled. On September 25, they came back to my home at 11 pm. As well as my husband and I, two of my relatives were beaten up this time. A hot iron rod was used to burn our bodies and we were made to eat human excreta. Our hospitalization was delayed by an hour, after which the police were notified.”
This complaint led to the police filing an FIR.
