The Harm

Woman accused of witchcraft in Bihar

In a shocking example of lawlessness in Bihar, a woman was beaten mercilessly in front of a crowd in a village near Patna.

The woman, villagers claim, was involved in witchcraft. However, she rebuffed the allegations but the crowd ignored her denials.

Forty-five year-old Lalpari Devi of Naubatpur village in Patna had gone to Adalchak Dumaria village on Thursday for treating one Manorama Rai, who was suffering from mental ailment, police sources said.

But as Manorama’s condition deteriorated during the treatment, her husband Ramayodhya Rai got angry with Lalpari and tortured her along with the neighbours.

Describing her ordeal, Lalpari Devi said, ”They beat me brutally and called police. They tied me with a rope and made me walk through the village.”

She further added that the villagers cut her hair and burnt it, tied her to the tree and beat her up. ”I am not a thief but they did this to me. I have not done anything,” she said.

The villagers then tonsured her head and smeared her face with limestone.

Police soon reached the scene and rescued Lalpari. She was admitted to a hospital from where she was discharged on Friday.

Police have filed an FIR and arrested Ramayodhya Rai. (With PTI inputs)