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Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Yahoo
5 members of family accused of witchcraft murdered by neighbors in India
New Delhi — Police have arrested three people suspected of brutally murdering five members of a family who were accused of witchcraft in the eastern Indian state of Bihar. Police said the victims were hacked to death and their bodies then burned by a mob of dozens of residents in the village of Temta on Sunday night. Three women were among the victims, said the police, who recovered the charred remains of the family on Monday evening. Residents reportedly suspected the family of causing a local boy's fatal illness. "We have arrested three accused so far," Pramod Kumar Mandal, Deputy Inspector General of the Purnea district, where the incident took place, told CBS News. Mandal confirmed that the victims had been accused of witchcraft and identified them as Babu Lal Oraon, 50, along with his 70-year-old mother Kanto Devi and his wife and two adult children. The couple's 16-year-old son was the sole survivor from the family. He told police that a mob of around 50 people stormed their house at about 10 p.m. on Sunday, accusing his mother of witchcraft and then attacking the family with bladed weapons, the Hindustan Times newspaper quoted a police officer as saying. The incident happened about 10 days after a child died in the village due to an illness. On Sunday night, the child's brother also fell ill, and the villagers suspected witchcraft as the cause, triggering the assault on Oraon's family, NDTV reported, quoting police. The Bihar Police formed a dedicated team to investigate the murders. Sweety Sahrawat, Superintendent of Police in Purnea, who is heading the investigation, told CBS News her team would arrest everyone else suspected of involvement in the attack "as soon as possible." Sahrawat noted that many residents of the village were suspected of involvement in the attack, and many residents were not helping police to identify the attackers. Cases of attacks on people accused of witchcraft are not uncommon in India and other south Asian countries. Governments and activists have struggled to end the attacks, which are based on centuries-old superstitions. Belief in witchcraft is also common in some rural communities in West Africa and elsewhere on the continent. Earlier this month, six people accused of witchcraft were burned alive, stoned or beaten to death by a militia in Burundi. Sneak peek: Who Killed Aileen Seiden in Room 15? Everything we know so far about the deadly Texas floods Search continues for dozens after Texas floods, at least 79 dead with more severe weather expected
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bihar horror: 5 of family killed in Purnea over witchcraft, black magic suspicions; three arrested
NEW DELHI: Five family members were allegedly killed, and the accused burnt their bodies in a bush on suspicion of practising witchcraft, police said on Monday. The incident took place in Bihar's Purnea district. Three people have been arrested in connection with the incident. 'Preliminary investigation suggests that five members of a family in Tetma village were first murdered on suspicion of practising witchcraft. It appears that the accused then burnt their bodies in a bush. The incident took place on Sunday night,' said DIG (Purnea) Pramod Kumar Mandal. According to the police, the killings took place on Sunday night in Tetma village under the jurisdiction of Sadar sub-division. Local police launched an investigation after receiving a call early Monday morning from 16-year-old Sonu Kumar, a member of the affected family. Police said the attack may have been triggered by the recent death of a child in the village. 'It is being said that the child of one Ramdev Oraon died three days back. It is believed that they indulged in black magic and they were killed in this connection,' SDPO Pankaj Kumar Sharma said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo Tejashwi Yadav reacts to the incident In a post on X, the RJD leader said: "In Purnia, five members of the same family were burnt alive." "Due to DK Tax, anarchy in Bihar is at its peak, DGP/CS helpless, law and order collapsed." "Day before yesterday in Siwan, three people were killed in a massacre. In recent days, three died in a massacre in Buxar. Three died in a massacre in Bhojpur." "Criminals vigilant, Chief Minister oblivious. Corrupt Bhooja Party thriving, police defeated!" "DK is enjoying because DK is the real boss."
