Indian police have arrested four men in connection with the killing of a woman and her 10-month-old son in Jharkhand state, following accusations of witchcraft in their remote tribal village, BBC News has reported.
The victims, Jyoti Sinku and her infant, were set on fire in Kudsai hamlet, approximately 250 kilometres from the state capital, Ranchi. Jyoti’s husband, Kolhan Sinku, sustained severe burns in the attack and is currently receiving treatment in hospital.
Authorities confirmed that the suspects are in custody and have remained silent publicly. Police said efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the mob believed to have participated in the killing.
Alarming Statistics on Witchcraft-Related Killings
According to India’s National Crime Records Bureau, over 2,500 people — the majority of them women — were killed between 2000 and 2016 across the country over suspicions of witchcraft.
The latest tragedy follows a similar incident months ago in neighbouring Bihar state, where five members of a family were murdered over witchcraft allegations.
How Village Rumours Sparked Violence
Investigators revealed that the violence in Kudsai was triggered by rumours linking sudden cattle deaths and the illness of a local man, Pustun Birua, to Jyoti Sinku.
Jano Birua, Pustun’s wife, said she resorted to seeking help from an informal healthcare provider when her husband began experiencing anxiety and fainting spells. She explained that access to proper medical care was limited due to their remote location.
Asked why she did not take him to a hospital, she said: “We are poor people, so it wasn’t possible to take him that far.”
As accusations against Jyoti Sinku spread through the community, tensions mounted. Pustun Birua died on Tuesday evening.
Survivor’s Harrowing Account
That same night, Kolhan Sinku recounted that a mob of about a dozen people, including five women, broke into their home and set his wife and child on fire.
Recalling the incident, he said: “I pleaded with folded hands to have the matter resolved in the village council but the attackers didn’t listen to me.”
Police Launch Manhunt, Plan Awareness Campaigns
Based on statements from Kolhan Sinku and another relative, district police have opened a case of murder and criminal conspiracy.
Police confirmed that a special team has been deployed to track down other suspects linked to the attack. Authorities also said they plan to organise awareness programmes in rural communities to combat superstition and prevent similar incidents.