Dalit woman burnt alive by group believing that she practiced witchcraft

A Dalit woman was burnt alive in Gaya district of Bihar on Saturday, by a group of people, who claimed that she was practicing witchcraft.

Fourteen people, including nine women, were arrested on Sunday for allegedly burning a 45-year-old woman alive at her home after declaring her a witch in Bihar’s Gaya district on Saturday, police said.

According to Superintendent of Police, Harpreet Kaur, “The deceased, Rita Devi, was belonged to the scheduled caste community and was married to Arjun Das. A case under sections 302 (murder) and 436 (mischief by fire) of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Witchcraft Act has been lodged against the attackers. Raids are going on to arrest others, who are absconding,” said superintendent of police Harpreet Kaur.

 The police said a month ago, a man, identified as Parmeshwar Bhuiyan of Pachmah village, died after a prolonged illness. The family of the deceased accused Rita Devi of witchcraft, after which both families were at loggerheads.

“On Saturday, Parmeshwar’s family invited an exorcist from Jharkhand and a panchayat was called in the afternoon. Seeing the possibility of a violent clash, the exorcist fled the scene. Soon, family members and supporters of the Bhuiyan community attacked the house of the deceased. While the male members fled into the forest, the women locked her inside the home. The mob allegedly broke open the room and thrashed the woman till she fell unconscious. They sprinkled petrol and set the house on fire and the woman was charred to death,” Kaur stated.