PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, November 8: A 70-year-old woman was allegedly stoned to death after being branded a witch in a village under the Chaibasa police station area of West Singhbhum district, late on Friday night.
According to police sources, the accused, a resident, attacked the elderly woman with stones, killing her on the spot. He later surrendered to the police and confessed to the crime.
The victim’s body has been sent for post-mortem, and a case of murder has been registered. Police officials said further investigations are underway to determine if others were involved in the incident.
Authorities condemn superstition-driven killing
Local authorities and social activists have strongly condemned the incident, calling it another tragic example of superstition-fueled violence that continues to claim lives in Jharkhand’s tribal-dominated areas.
Officials said community outreach programs and awareness drives are being intensified under the Jharkhand Witchcraft (Prevention) Act, 2001, which criminalises branding and assaulting individuals as witches.
West Singhbhum Superintendent of Police stated that “strict action will be taken” and urged villagers to report such suspicions to local authorities instead of taking the law into their own hands.
Witch-hunting still haunts Jharkhand
Despite repeated awareness campaigns, witch-hunting remains a grave social problem in Jharkhand, particularly in rural and tribal belts of West Singhbhum, Khunti, and Simdega.
According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Jharkhand records one of the highest numbers of witchcraft-related killings in India every year.
Activists say superstition, illiteracy, and local disputes often combine to target vulnerable women — especially widows and the elderly — who are falsely branded as witches.
Government and non-profit organisations have been working to educate rural communities through workshops, cultural programs, and school-level campaigns to eradicate this deep-rooted belief.
A continuing challenge
Friday night’s murder in Chaibasa once again underscores the urgent need for social awareness, stronger enforcement, and community vigilance to end witchcraft-related violence.
Police said efforts are ongoing to involve Gram Sabhas and local women’s groups in spreading awareness about the legal and social consequences of such acts.
