Witchcraft Allegations Lead to Brutal Family Lynching in Bihar Village

A horrific act of mob violence in Bihar's Purnea district has left five members of a tribal family dead after they were accused of practicing witchcraft. The attack, which occurred on the night of 6 July in Tetgama village, has shaken the local community and drawn national condemnation.
According to survivor accounts and a police report, a mob of nearly 200 villagers, armed with sticks and weapons, stormed the home of Babulal Oraon following allegations that his mother, 71-year-old Kato Devi, and other family members were responsible for the death and illness of children in the village through supposed witchcraft.
The main accused, Ramdev Oraon, had recently lost his son to illness and brought another sick relative to the family’s home, accompanied by a local exorcist. Following rituals, the exorcist allegedly declared Kato Devi and Babulal’s wife Sita Devi to be witches, prompting the mob to demand immediate healing. When no miracle occurred, the mob turned violent.
Babulal Oraon, his wife Sita Devi, son Manjit, daughter-in-law Rani Devi, and mother Kato Devi were brutally beaten, tied up, dragged to a nearby pond, and allegedly burned alive. Their bodies were later found charred, stuffed in sacks, and discarded.
One teenage family member managed to escape and later recounted the events to police. A total of 23 named individuals and up to 200 unidentified villagers have been accused of participating in the lynching. The district magistrate confirmed that arrests have been made, including that of the exorcist, while several suspects, including Ramdev, remain at large.
Local officials have acknowledged severe lapses in police response. Despite the incident occurring just 7 kilometers from the nearest station, authorities received information over 11 hours after the mob had formed. The officer in charge has since been suspended.
This marks the first such witchcraft-related lynching in the area, but the case highlights a broader issue: between 2000 and 2016, over 2,500 people were killed across India due to similar suspicions. Campaigners say superstition, low literacy, and poor healthcare access leave tribal communities particularly vulnerable to such violence.
Most of Tetgama village has since been abandoned, and survivors are receiving psychological and material support from the government. A special investigation team is continuing inquiries, with the potential for life imprisonment or capital punishment for those found guilty.
Sources:
BBC News, National Crime Records Bureau (India), Local police and district administration reports