KUMUD JENAMANI
March 27: A 55-year-old woman was bludgeoned to death after she was moved around in the village branded as a witch at a village under Tonto thana area in West Singhbhum district.
The ghastly murder of the woman identified as Belo Sinku had taken place at Baihatu village under Tonto thana area in the district, about 100 kms away from here, on November 7, 2022.
Though the murder was committed about four months ago, the victim’s family members had not reported the incident to the police immediately it took place out of fear apprehending more trouble from the assailants. They mustered the courage to lodge an FIR with the concerned thana on Monday only.
According to the FIR, the murder was committed by Kuda Bahanda, Merel Bahanda and Ladura Bahanda, all residents of Baihatu village.
After Belo had gone missing after she was paraded in the village on November 7, the victim’s family members were searching for her. But the next morning, the three assailants came to the victim’s house and asked not to search Belo in and around the village as they have already murdered her.
Ladura Bahanda’s wife died of a disease in recent past.
Ladura told the victim’s son that a black magician namely Sharada Sinku had come to his house for performing a Puja ritual. During the ritual he (Sharada Sinku) had revealed that Belo was a witch and was responsible for the death of his wife. This was the reason they killed Belo after branding her a witch.
Following the FIR, a police party rushed to Baihatu village and arrested Ladura Bahanda, when two other accused Kuda Bahanda and Merel Bahanda have absconded.
