Three weeks following the brutal killings of five family members in India, who were allegedly burned alive amid witchcraft accusations, the survivors continue to grapple with the aftermath of this tragedy.
This Story's credit goes to BBC News
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| Courtesy : BBC |
For Manisha Devi (name changed) from Tetgama village in Bihar state, the night of July 6 remains the darkest moment of her life. Around 10 PM, an aggressive mob assembled outside their relatives' residence; by dawn, five individuals, including a 71-year-old widow named Kato Oraon, had lost their lives. This incident in Bihar is not an isolated case. The National Crime Records Bureau reports that over 2,500 individuals, predominantly women, were murdered in India on suspicions of witchcraft between 2000 and 2016.
However, the Tetgama murders are particularly notable, as they involved the simultaneous killing of five family members. Advocates assert that superstition and belief in witchcraft are still prevalent among many of India's marginalized tribal communities, including those implicated in the recent Bihar incident. The alleged perpetrators and victims are all members of the Oraon tribe, having coexisted for generations. Yet, the events of July 6 have created a divide that is unlikely to heal in the near future. The streets of Tetgama now resonate with silence; all residents, except for four of Kato Devi's sons and their families, have abandoned the village. Some houses are locked, while others seem to have been hastily deserted.
The BBC has interviewed the victims' relatives, police, and officials to reconstruct the events of that fateful night. Manisha Devi recounted hearing a disturbance and discovering a large crowd outside the home of Babulal Oraon, the eldest of Kato's five sons who resided nearby. Among those killed were Mr. Oraon, his wife Sita Devi, their son Manjit, and daughter-in-law Rani Devi. The youngest son, a teenager, is the sole survivor. In their initial information report (FIR), which is accessible online, the police have identified a villager named Ramdev Oraon as the primary suspect.
It was reported that Ramdev's son passed away approximately 10 days ago after falling ill; however, he had purportedly accused Kato Devi and her family of causing his child's death through witchcraft. The basis for this belief remains unclear. According to the police, Ramdev is currently evading capture, and efforts are underway to locate him. On the evening of the tragic events, Ramdev allegedly brought his nephew, who seemed to be in serious distress, to the residence of the victims.
Manisha Devi recounted witnessing the teenager lying on the ground while the village exorcist conducted rituals and recited mantras. Manisha Devi, along with another relative and the survivor mentioned in his police report, claimed that the exorcist labeled Kato Devi and Babulal's wife, Sita Devi, as witches, attributing the death and illness in Ramdev's family to them. "Kato was forcibly removed and given thirty minutes to cure the ailing teenager. Sita Devi, who was visiting her mother in a nearby village, was summoned and told to return if she wished to see her family survive," she stated. The second relative, who also witnessed the alleged homicides, reported that Kato implored the villagers to act rationally, but the mob's anger only intensified. "When Babulal and Manjit attempted to intervene, they were also attacked by the mob. Rani Devi faced assault as she tried to protect her husband," she continued. "Upon Sita Devi's return with her son, the survivor, they too were met with violence.
The teenager subsequently informed the police that he had somehow escaped, concealed himself in the darkness, and witnessed the lynching and burning of his family. The police report identifies 23 individuals from the village, along with "150 to 200 unnamed individuals who constituted the mob." "The mob was equipped with sticks, rods, and sharp instruments. They bound all five victims with rope and dragged them to the village pond, assaulting and mistreating them throughout the journey," the report states. It further mentions that the victims were "half-dead" when they were drenched in petrol and ignited, with their remains packed in sacks and transported away on a tractor. A senior police official informed reporters the following day that the victims had been burned alive, and their charred remains were retrieved from a pond near the village. District Magistrate Anshul Kumar initially stated that the five individuals were burned alive. However, he recently conveyed to the BBC that the post-mortem findings were inconclusive regarding this matter. "The report shows signs of burn injuries and assault; nevertheless, it does not definitively specify the exact cause of death, whether it was due to burning or if that occurred after the murder." Alarmingly, the night-long violence transpired not far from the Mufassil police station, situated merely 7km (4.5 miles) away. Mr. Kumar indicated that the police became aware of the incident 11 hours after the mob had assembled, acknowledging that this indicated "there were shortcomings somewhere" and that "this was our failure." However, he added that the delay was due to the involvement of the entire community. In the aftermath, the officer in charge was suspended. His successor, Sudin Ram, informed the BBC that four individuals, including the exorcist, have been apprehended. The others are currently evading capture, he stated. "We have invoked laws pertaining to unlawful assembly, rioting, inflicting grievous harm with dangerous weapons, wrongful restraint, mob lynching, and the concealment of evidence of the offense," Mr. Ram remarked, adding that those found guilty could face life imprisonment or the death penalty.
The BBC has been unable to communicate with the exorcist, who is currently in custody, nor with Ramdev, whose location remains unknown. According to police official Mr. Kumar, the survivor is in protective custody at a secure location and is receiving counseling, and he is "gradually recovering." His brothers, who were away working at the time of the attack, are receiving complimentary food and support, he mentioned. They are presently residing with relatives in a nearby village. A special investigation team is examining the lynchings; however, Mr. Kumar stated that hysteria fueled by superstition led the crowd to carry out the murders.
Officials indicate that this is the first incident of its kind in the area, with no previous cases of witchcraft ever documented. Nevertheless, Mira Devi, a local social worker, informed the BBC that tribal villages lack educational resources and tend to depend more on exorcists than on medical professionals or medicine. Santosh Singh, the village council head, noted that most children forgo school to assist their parents at nearby brick kilns. Local teacher Indranand Chaudhary confirmed that only three children are enrolled in school, and none of them attend. Tetgama, a tribal village located 11 kilometers from Purnea town, is home to 22 families. A villager points across the paddy fields to the charred maize stalks, marking the site of the tragedy that occurred on July 6.
Narrow mud paths lead to the homes of the victims. At Babulal Oraon's two-room hut, constructed from corn stalks, bamboo, and mud, time appears to have stood still. In the room where Manjit and his newlywed wife Rani Devi once slept, the bed is neatly arranged, with a clean sheet and the mosquito net tucked in. Manisha Devi sits outside her residence, haunted by the senseless murders she and others witnessed that night. "We stood helplessly, watching the victims desperately trying to save themselves. That scene still haunts us," recounted one man.
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