In Purnia, Bihar, five members of the same family were brutally murdered over suspicions of witchcraft. The victims include three women and two men. A pall of grief has descended over the village after the horrific incident. According to locals, some villagers suspected that Babu Lal Oraon's mother was a witch. Following this, the villagers first assaulted the family and then burned them alive. After the gruesome killings, the accused buried the bodies in a secluded location.
Police have confirmed that the incident occurred in Tetgama, Ward-10 of Rajiganj Panchayat, under the Mufassil Police Station area. The horrifying act was carried out in front of the deceased’s son by the villagers. Following the incident, the police have detained two individuals for questioning. The deceased have been identified as Sita Devi (48), Babu Lal Oraon (50), Kato Devi (65), Manjeet Oraon (25), and Rani Devi (23).
Incident Took Place in Front of 200 People
Sonu, the son of the deceased woman, stated that some villagers suspected his grandmother of practicing black magic. On Sunday night, a meeting was convened under the leadership of village chief Nakul Oraon, where about 200 villagers were present. During this meeting, Kato Devi and other family members were summoned on the accusation of witchcraft.
Sonu Escaped to Save His Life
The villagers refused to listen to any defense for Sonu's grandmother and, branding her a witch, brutally assaulted the entire family. First, they were mercilessly beaten with sticks and rods. Then, petrol was poured over them, and they were burned alive. After all of them died in agony, their bodies were taken by tractor and disposed of in a remote location. Sonu, who was present at the scene, managed to escape and survive. He was the one who informed the police about the entire incident.
Police from 3 Stations Deployed on Scene
Upon receiving the information, police from Mufassil station and two other nearby stations reached the spot. SP Sweety Sahrawat and ASP Alok Ranjan also arrived at the scene. Considering the seriousness of the case, an FIR has been registered and investigations are underway. Mufassil Station In-Charge Uttam Kumar stated that five members of the same family were murdered on allegations of witchcraft by the village chief and other locals. Following the incident, village head Nakul Oraon and the tractor driver were arrested. By late evening, three bodies had been recovered by the police.
