Tribal woman branded ‘witch’, women hack her to death

SNS, Siliguri, 9 October:  Branding an Adivasi woman a ‘witch’, a group of 31 women hacked her to death at Balaband under the Kaliyaganj police station in North Dinajpur district today, police said.

According to the police, the incident took place at around 11 am today when a group of 31 women armed with axes and other sharp edged weapons attacked Parbati Pahan, 42, near her house.

Police arrested all the 31 women and produced them in court today. 

They were remanded in judicial custody for 14 days. Seven children, who came along with their mothers, are also in jail.

Sources said a soothsayer came to the village yesterday and accused the woman of being a ‘witch’ and he suggested the villagers to kill her. Following his instructions, villagers decided to attack her this morning.

The police have identified the soothsayer, who came from Kushmandi area in South Dinajpur, and they are trying to arrest him.

Police have registered a case against the 31 women following a complaint from Parbati’s husband Naresh Pahan. Both Naresh and his son Swajal are in safe custody of the police.

Sources said a group of villagers had called the soothsayer after three persons, including a woman died, in the village within six months. 

The deceased have been identified as Rupa Pahan, Suren Pahan and Sunil Pahan. Sunil Pahan had died on Tuesday.