The echoes of the brutal burning of a family of 5 in Tetgama village, Rajiganj Panchayat, Purnia district, Bihar, are resonating across the country these days. However, considering the statistics, the killings in Jharkhand, a state rich in water, forests, and natural minerals, in the name of witch-hunting (Dayaan-Bisaahi) are no less than a curse. Despite the government’s numerous awareness campaigns and stringent legal provisions, murders in Jharkhand continue, fueled by superstition, black magic, lack of education, and property disputes, with victims often targeted by those they know, accusing them of being witches.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, from 2000 to 2020, 590 people were murdered in Jharkhand, with most of the victims being women. However, civil society organizations claim that over 1800 murders have occurred in Jharkhand in the last 20 years. West Singhbhum, Khunti, Simdega, and Gumla districts are the most affected by the heinous practice of witch-hunting.
In the past, killings on the accusation of being a witch have been rampant in most districts of Jharkhand. According to statistics, in Khunti district alone, hundreds of women and men have fallen victim to this practice in the last 3 years. In 2024, a heart-wrenching incident came to light in Nurda village, Hatgamharia police station area, West Singhbhum district, where four members of a family, including an 8-month-old infant, were murdered on the accusation of being witches, and their bodies were dumped on the railway tracks between Kendposo and Talaburu railway stations.
Among the victims were a woman, a man, an eight-month-old child, and a one-and-a-half-year-old child. Another incident occurred in 2024 in Siakel village, Tebo police station area, West Singhbhum district, where three members of the same family were murdered by a sharp-edged weapon after entering their house. The victims included Dugul Purti, his wife Suku Hero, and their son Dashkir Purti.
After the murder, the bodies of all three were dragged with ropes and dumped in the forest of Churingkocha, outside the village. In 2022, three women residing in Ranadih village, Sonahatu police station area, Ranchi, were murdered on suspicion of being witches. The deceased women were identified as Railu Devi, Dholi Devi, and Alomoni Devi. The reason for the murder of the three women was very shocking.
In fact, a child had died in their village due to a snake bite. The Ojha (faith healer) had spread the illusion that the three women of the village were witches. After this, some people of the village jointly carried out the triple murder. In 2023, in Ladup village, Chandwa police station area, Latehar district, Sibal Ganjhu and his wife Bauni Ganjhu were beaten to death with sticks and rods in the witch-hunting case after a panchayat was held.
In fact, there was suspicion of black magic and being a witch in the village, so the couple was murdered. In 2023 itself, in Aamdih village, Barwadih police station area, Latehar district, a couple, Krit Singh and his wife Tulsimani Devi, were murdered with sharp weapons by some unknown people late at night on suspicion of being Ojha Guni. However, later, during the investigation, the police arrested more than a dozen villagers in the murder case.
Meanwhile, if we talk about Khunti district of Jharkhand, in May 2025, a 40-year-old woman was murdered in Patradih village, under Murhu police station area, Khunti district, on the accusation of being a witch. This murder was carried out by Etwa Mundu, who lived in the neighborhood, along with his four friends. They entered the woman’s house and killed her. The accused Etwa Mundu suspected that his son was ill for almost a year because of the black magic done by Budhni Purti. The police have arrested four people in this case.
In 2023, 65-year-old old Bhanu Munda alias Bayar Munda was brutally murdered by slitting his throat in Sereghatu village, Arki police station area, Khunti district, on the accusation of being a witch. While in 2020, in Kuda village, under Siyko police station area, Khunti district, three members of the same family were murdered on the accusation of being witches, the deceased included the parents and a minor daughter.
More than a dozen people were involved in this triple murder. In March 2025, Maino Devi, about 50 years old, a resident of Fatti Bagicha Toli, Gumla district, was murdered due to superstition, and her body was buried in the sand near the Khatwa river. In this case, the police arrested the deceased woman’s neighbor, Krampall Lakra. Karmpal’s sister-in-law had died of a snake bite, and he held the deceased responsible for it.
In February 2025, in Raydih police station area of Gumla district, a mother and daughter were murdered on the accusation of being witches. They were cut with sharp weapons. The accused in this case, Kamlesh Pradhan, lived in their neighborhood. His health had been poor for a long time, and he suspected that the two mothers and daughters had performed black magic on him, because of which he was not getting better. Such hundreds of incidents have occurred in Jharkhand in the name of witch-hunting so far.
Despite the government’s strict legal action along with awareness campaigns, the murders due to the superstition of witch-hunting like practices do not seem to stop. The curse of the witch is no less than a curse for the state of Jharkhand, rich in water, forests, and natural minerals.
