West Singhbhum: Woman killed over witchcraft suspicion

Chaibasa, Sep 3: A 45-year-old woman named Basanti Gope was murdered and her body was thrown in the field on suspicion of a witch in Ulisai village of Majhgaon police station area of West Singhbhum. The deceased, along with her 10-year-old daughter Lalmati Gope, had gone out for grazing with a cow on Thursday morning. In the evening, when the cow was returning to her village Ghorabandha after grazing, at the same time, her nephew Videshi Gope and Vanmati Gope suddenly attacked her.
Lalmati Gope, the daughter of deceased Basanti, escaped from the spot after saving her life and reached the village, who informed her father Ranjit Gope about the mother’s murder. Her husband said that three years ago there was a dispute in the family over the allegation of witchcraft. The matter was resolved by a meeting in the village. But in between, it was always discussed in the village that Basanti is a witch.
Sub Inspector Haripad Tudu and ASI Vijay Kumar Dwivedi of Majhgaon police station reached the spot late at 9 pm. Her dead body was picked up from the field and brought to the police station. The police have arrested both the accused on the basis of the firm statement of the deceased’s daughter and husband.