33 Arrested For Lynching Woman: 4 Cases Of Women Being Attacked Over Witchcraft

33 people, including 20 women were arrested in connection with lynching a 50-year-old woman on suspicion of witchcraft in Odisha.

The villagers allegedly killed Jhunu Nayak after her husband Yudhisthira lodged a complaint against his neighbour Butu Nayak, for allegedly abusing him and attacking him.

The villagers had targeted the family and suspected them of practising witchcraft and blamed them for the death of three people in a short period. The police said Yudhisthira complained they were being “tortured”.

Some villagers were enraged that Yudhisthira lodged the complaint without consulting them and attacked the family at their home on Wednesday night.

While Yudishthira and his 28-year-old son Jogeshwar managed to flee, Jhunu could not. The next morning, Yudhisthira returned and found his wife dead.

The police said that the attack was unrelated to the allegations of witchcraft.

In India, allegations of witchcraft are dangerous and can lead to death. There have been several cases of women being attacked and even murdered after people take “justice” into their own hands.

Women Attacked Over Witchcraft

Jharkhand Woman Set On Fire On Suspicion Of Witchcraft

Earlier this year, a tribal woman in a village in Jharkhand was allegedly beaten up and set on fire by her neighbours. The 60-year-old named Jhario suffered 30 percent burns before other villagers rescued her.

Six people were arrested after the woman and her son filed a complaint with the police. The woman and her husband and visited the house of Florence Dungung after his wife passed away for religious rites. He accused Jhario of practising witchcraft and blamed her for his wife’s death.

Bihar Women Beaten And Forced To Drink Urine

Three women in Bihar were reportedly targeted on suspicion of being witches and attacked and forced to drink urine. As per reports, a minor girl was among one of the three.

The women went to visit a cousin whose wife was unwell, however, locals allegedly branded them as witches and locked them overnight and beat them.

Women Beaten To Death By Neighbours

On October 28, 2021, the half-naked body of a 55-year-old woman was dound on the outskirts of Mangad village, Jharkhand. She had been beaten to death the previous night by neighbours who alleged she practised black magic.

The wife of one of the neighbours claimed she felt unwell after the woman visited her and held her wrist. According to the deceased’s husband, the woman was being harassed by the villagers and being accused of witchcraft.

75-Year-Old Woman Killed By Neighbour

In Jharkhand, a 75-year-old woman was branded a witch and murdered by her neighbour. The woman, Shanicharwa Khadia was sitting outside her home when her neighbour Pandu Oraon attacked and murdered her.

Khadia’s son revealed that the accused had attempted to kill his mother in 2018 as well.