The Harm

Accused Witch Beaten in Eastern India

PATNA, India (AP) - A woman accused of practicing witchcraft in eastern India was tied to a tree and beaten by enraged villagers, police said Friday.

Lalpari Devi was attacked Wednesday in a village on the outskirts of Patna, the capital of Bihar state, local police official Nishant Tiwary told The Associated Press.

Tiwary said Devi claimed to be a faith healer and was treating a mentally ill woman in the village. When the woman attempted to commit suicide, Devi was attacked by angry villagers, Tiwary said.

He said Devi was tied to a tree with rope and repeatedly beaten. Her hair was then cut off and she was paraded through the village, Tiwary said. A video of the attack was aired Friday by New Delhi Television.

Ram Ayodhya Rai, the mentally ill woman’s husband, was arrested and charged with assault, Tiwari said. He added that police have started an investigation to find out how many other villagers were involved in the assault.

Devi is being investigated for fraud, Tiwary said.

Rural areas in India remain deeply superstitious, despite the country’s economic progress in recent years. Many people believe in black magic and dozens of people are beaten or killed every year for practicing witchcraft.

The price if the beliefe in magic.