Mother and Infant Burned Alive in India's Jharkhand Over Witchcraft Accusation

Jharkhand. In the Indian state of Jharkhand, a woman and her 10-month-old son were burned alive on allegations of witchcraft. Police have arrested four people in connection with this inhumane incident that occurred in the Kudsai village of the eastern state of Jharkhand. 

The woman's husband, Kolhan Sinku, who was seriously injured in the attack, is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital. He stated that despite his desperate pleas to save his wife and child, the enraged mob set the house on fire without listening to anyone. 

It has been revealed that this incident stemmed from superstition and rumors spreading in the village. Villagers became furious, alleging that Jyoti Sinku used witchcraft after a local resident named Pustun Biruwa fell ill and died. 

Instead of taking the sick person to the hospital due to poverty, they turned to traditional healers (Dhami-Jhankri), who declared that the ailment was due to tantric influence rather than physical illness, which ignited the violence. Such superstitions thrive in this remote tribal settlement, located 250 kilometers from Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, due to a lack of access to health services. 

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, more than 2,500 people have been murdered in India between 2000 and 2016 over witchcraft accusations, the majority of whom were women. Just a few months ago, five members of the same family were murdered in a similar manner in the neighboring state of Bihar. 

Police have deployed a special team to search for other individuals involved in this incident. Furthermore, they have committed to conducting public awareness programs against such deadly superstitions spreading in rural areas.