02-18-2012, 09:10 PM
Kathmandu Daily
CHITWAN, Feb 17: A widow was mercilessly beaten and burnt to death by her relatives in Baghaudha village-2 of Chitwan district Friday for “practicing witchcraft”. According to villagers, Dhegani Mahato, 40, was mercilessly beaten by her relatives, including Bikram Mahato, who hit her with stones before setting her on fire. Locals said, Dhegani’s in-laws attacked her when she was feeding her cattle. Although there are several other houses in the vicinity, nobody noticed Dhegani being thrashed. Villagers say they came to know about the incident only after Bikram set Dhegani on fire. “When I reached there, she was already dead,” said Jhari Mahato, Dhegani’s father-in-law. Villagers say Bikram’s family members were dancing around Dhegani’s blazing body with sickles in their hands. The assailants ran away after villagers gathered. Police have arrested eight persons, including Bikram and Jogishwora Mahato, who claims to be a shaman, on the charge of killing Dhegani. According to the police, Bikram’s family members said they killed Dhegani as per “the god’s instruction”. Police have arrested Bikram, his wife Laxmi, daughter Manju Mahato, son-in-law Bikram Mahato, a resident of Baghauda-8, Sanju Mahato, Krishna Mahato and Saraswati Mahato and Jogishwor Mahato. Bikram’s daughter Manju had visited her maternal home with her husband Bikram Thursday. Bikram fell sick Thursday night. Manju tried to dispel “the influence of witchcraft” on her husband by hitting him with a broom. They attacked Dhegani after Jogishwor pointed her out as a witch “who cast her spell on Bikram”. According to Bishwomati Mahato, a local woman, Jogishwor was arrested for accusing another woman of practicing witchcraft some 15 days ago. Police later freed him after Jogishwor claimed to have not called any one witch. “We had to free him after he claimed innocence and other villagers also supported him,” said inspector Govinda Singh Chhetri, chief of Basantpur Area Police Office, Chitwan. Bikram’s grandson had died after drowning in the river some time ago. “Bikram might have been under a false impression that his grandson was drowned to death because of Dhegani,” said Prabhu Mahato, a local. “His false impression must have turned into a belief when his son-in-law fell sick Thursday night.” Dhegani’s husband had died of cancer seven years ago. She had been living with her 10-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter since then.
CHITWAN, Feb 17: A widow was mercilessly beaten and burnt to death by her relatives in Baghaudha village-2 of Chitwan district Friday for “practicing witchcraft”. According to villagers, Dhegani Mahato, 40, was mercilessly beaten by her relatives, including Bikram Mahato, who hit her with stones before setting her on fire. Locals said, Dhegani’s in-laws attacked her when she was feeding her cattle. Although there are several other houses in the vicinity, nobody noticed Dhegani being thrashed. Villagers say they came to know about the incident only after Bikram set Dhegani on fire. “When I reached there, she was already dead,” said Jhari Mahato, Dhegani’s father-in-law. Villagers say Bikram’s family members were dancing around Dhegani’s blazing body with sickles in their hands. The assailants ran away after villagers gathered. Police have arrested eight persons, including Bikram and Jogishwora Mahato, who claims to be a shaman, on the charge of killing Dhegani. According to the police, Bikram’s family members said they killed Dhegani as per “the god’s instruction”. Police have arrested Bikram, his wife Laxmi, daughter Manju Mahato, son-in-law Bikram Mahato, a resident of Baghauda-8, Sanju Mahato, Krishna Mahato and Saraswati Mahato and Jogishwor Mahato. Bikram’s daughter Manju had visited her maternal home with her husband Bikram Thursday. Bikram fell sick Thursday night. Manju tried to dispel “the influence of witchcraft” on her husband by hitting him with a broom. They attacked Dhegani after Jogishwor pointed her out as a witch “who cast her spell on Bikram”. According to Bishwomati Mahato, a local woman, Jogishwor was arrested for accusing another woman of practicing witchcraft some 15 days ago. Police later freed him after Jogishwor claimed to have not called any one witch. “We had to free him after he claimed innocence and other villagers also supported him,” said inspector Govinda Singh Chhetri, chief of Basantpur Area Police Office, Chitwan. Bikram’s grandson had died after drowning in the river some time ago. “Bikram might have been under a false impression that his grandson was drowned to death because of Dhegani,” said Prabhu Mahato, a local. “His false impression must have turned into a belief when his son-in-law fell sick Thursday night.” Dhegani’s husband had died of cancer seven years ago. She had been living with her 10-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter since then.