Suspecting witchcraft elderly woman thrashed to death
The Statesman | 6 September 2025Police have booked four youths on charges of murder in connection with the killing, which has sparked outrage in the area.
Seventy-five-year-old Lakshmi Hembram of Gouripur village in Memari had been accused by some locals after they began suffering from an unidentified fever for several days. As Lakshmi was living alone, a youth named Sanatan Kisku had been engaged by her relatives to look after her.
According to police, Sanatan allegedly told villagers last night that Lakshmi had been practising witchcraft, which could have caused their illness. Word spread quickly, and four youths dragged Lakshmi from her home, beat her with bamboo logs and attacked her with sharp weapons before slitting her throat. Deep wounds were found on her neck, police confirmed.
Her body was later recovered from a pond barely 200 metres from her home.
The four arrested youths have been identified as Bimal Hansda, Sandip Murmu, Binoy Hansda and Shiba Hansda.
Arka Banerjee, additional superintendent of police, said: “The elderly woman was murdered by some locals out of superstitious belief, which appears to be the prime motive. We have already begun a probe into the incident.”
