KHOTANG, Nov 10: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has begun investigation into an alleged case of witchcraft in Banjechang of Khotang district.
A team of NHRC officials deployed from Diktel Sub-regional Office conducted field study after the victim filed a complaint at the office on November 17, claiming that the earlier case filed at the local police station of Khotang was manipulated by the police and those accused in the misconduct.
According to the victim, the term 'witchcraft' was erased from the entire record filed on May 26 this year.
Eyewitnesses said that locals Dhanganj Rai and his wife had beaten the 72-year-old man severely accusing him of practicing witchcraft to make their son dumb. During the incident, the victim sustained injuries to his head, hands and legs.
However, locals said the couple had a minor argument at the local mill the other day. The next day, they came to a neighbor's house where the old man was visiting and started beating him mercilessly. The victim was taken to the village clinic and then to Diktel Hospital for treatment. He has seven stitches in his head.
Although, a case of alleged witchcraft was filed at the local police station, it was later changed into public offence by the police. The victim now claims that the accused involved in beating him and the police are conspiring against him.
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