“I am not a witch. I need justice,” Tura said indistinctly on Wednesday from bed number 12 of District Hospital, Kalaiya. “Arrest the culprits,” she added in Bhojpuri language. [break]
According to Tura´s husband, Bedani Sah, she was thrashed by neighbor Mandu Miya and his accomplices accusing her of practicing witchcraft on Miya´s daughter Sabana.
“They grabbed and took her away while she was returning from a market after purchasing vegetable,” said Bedani, adding, “They forced her into a room, locked it from inside and then beat her up.”
Though Gauridevi pleaded for help, Bedani could not come to her aid as he was outnumbered.
Gauridevi´s daughter-in-law Sanju said the assailants beat Gauridevi accusing her of ´planting a ghost´ in Sabana´s body. She added that Gauridevi survived only because police that arrived from Area Police Office, Simraunagad intervened.
“By the time police arrived, mother was unconscious,” Sanju said. “She was given immediate treatment in the village and then taken to Kalaiya on Tuesday.” Doctors involved in treating Gauridevi said though she hasn´t suffered external injuries, the beating has affected the inside of her body. “She underwent x-ray of her chest and back on Wednesday. We will know about the injuries after the reports are ready,” said Dr Akhtar Reja.
Police have arrested two people, Mohram Miya and Safi Alam, based on the victim´s complaint, according to Inspector Gyanendra Basnet. Mandu Miya, Haruni Miya, Navi Alam and Mumtaj Alam are at large.
Inspector Basnet said though mistreatments over witchcraft allegations are recurrent in various parts of the district, complaints are rarely filed.
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