A 55-year-old woman was tragically killed in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district over suspicions of practicing witchcraft. The victim, Chandu Purti from Baibera village, was brutally murdered by having her throat slit with a sharp weapon. The perpetrators attempted to conceal the crime by disposing of her body in a forest gorge.
The incident came to light when villagers noticed a foul smell emanating from the forest area and alerted the authorities. Following this, the police discovered the victim’s body around 200 meters away from her residence. A suspect, 26-year-old Premjit Banra from Pansuan village, has been apprehended, with a search ongoing for other individuals involved.
Premjit Banra, during interrogation, revealed the identities of three other accomplices in the crime. The accused allegedly targeted the victim due to suspicions of her involvement in witchcraft, stemming from his wife’s prolonged illness. The police are actively pursuing the remaining suspects who are currently at large.
The local community reported that the incident occurred on a Sunday evening, after which the perpetrators disposed of the body in the forest. The authorities have sent the victim’s body for post-mortem examination at Chaibasa Sadar Hospital. Investigations are ongoing to unravel the full extent of the conspiracy and the roles played by the other suspects.
