Jharkhand Shocker: Family members in Dumka forced to consume human excreta for practicing 'witchcraft'

Jharkhand: In yet another shocker from Dumka district, as many as four members of a family, including three women, were forced to consume human excreta. The reason: villagers reportedly alleged that they practised witchcraft. Notably, the victims were tortured with a hot iron rod over an allegation of witchcraft practise.

The shocking incident happened in Aswari village in the Sariyahat Police Station area, PTI reported. "The inhuman torture of the four people started on September 25 and continued till September 26. Some villagers first thrashed them after branding them witches," said Saryahat police station in-charge. "Thereafter, they filled human excreta in a bottle and forced them to consume it. Parts of their bodies were also burnt with a hot iron rod," the police said.

As per the police, after receiving information about the incident, a police team went to the village and rescued the victims. They were admitted to the community health centre in Saryahat. Later, the victims were referred to a hospital in Deoghar district.

A police case has been lodged against six people. Police has launched the manhunt. As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a total of 590 people, mostly women, were killed over this period between 2001 and 2020.

Similarly, an elderly woman was allegedly branded as a witch and was thrashed by her neighbours including relatives in the Begusarai district of Bihar. Victim woman Kaushalaya Devi told the police that her neighbours Sitaram Yadav and Sumit Yadav along with dozens of their families arrived armed with sticks and pistols at her home and after reaching the door started abusing her.

The accused later dragged Kaushalya Devi out and tried to kill her by strangling her, Dainik Bhaskar reported.