Nagpur: In a horrific incident, a man and a woman were attacked and burnt alive by people on suspicion of witchcraft in Gadchiroli district, police said. At least 15 people were arrested in connection with the incident.
Their bodies were later thrown into a nullah in the village and discovered by the police the next day.
Today’s Rate
Wednesday 06 Nov. 2024
Three deaths had taken place one after the other in the neighbouring Bolepalli village, and the accused suspected the duo of being involved in black magic and held them responsible for the deaths, he said.
On May 1, some people from the village got together, called a panchayat and alleged that the two victims were involved in black magic. The villagers also alleged that a child, Arohi Bandu Telami, who is three-and-a-half years old, had died due to witchcraft.
Angered over the child’s death, the villagers caught the two victims, assaulted them and poured petrol on them, before setting them on fire. The victims were identified as Jamni Devaji Telami (52) and Deshu Katia Atlami (57).
The horror came to light after one of the deceased’s kin, Sadu Mohunda, moved police, leading to the arrest of 15 persons, including the son and husband of one of the deceased.
The duo of Jamni Telami and Deshu Atlami were pinned down by a mob in full public view and assaulted for three hours after the panchayat held them guilty of practising black magic that led to the death of an infant, Arohi Telami. To add to the horror, the lynch mob was led by Jamni’s son Devaji, and husband, Diwakar.
Jamni, who lived with her parents in Vasamundi hamlet, was summoned by the panchayat of Barsewada village, where her husband and son resided. Following the diktat, she travelled to Barsewada with brother, Mohunda, to clarify her stand before village elders. She was thrashed at the meeting by assembled tribals and asked to name her accomplice. Jamni purportedly divulged the name of Atlami as the other black magic practitioner. The villagers dragged Atlami from his house and began assaulting him too.
Sensing the murderous mood of the mob, Mohunda fled the site. On Thursday, he was told about the murder of his sister and a man, following which he approached the Etapalli police station.
Considering the seriousness and severity of the incident, Superintendent of Police (SP) Gadchiroli Nilotpal, and Etapally Sub-Divisional Police Officer Chaitanya Kadam and Officer Nilkanth Kukde instructed the Officer-in-Charge of Etapally to start an investigation and arrest the accused involved in the act.
Following a police crackdown, the police arrested fifteen people for the incident. They were identified as Ajay Bapu Telami, Bhauji Shatru Telami, Amit Sama Madavi, Mircha Telami, Bapu Kandru Telami, Somji Kandru Telami, Dinesh Kolu Telami, Srihari Birja Telami, Madhukar Deshu Poi, Amit alias Nagesh Ramji Telami, Ganesh Baju Hedo, Madhukar Shatru Telami, Devaji Muhonda Telami, Diwakar Devaji Telami and Birja Telami. All are residents of Barsewada village.
The police registered a case under Sections 302, 307, 201, 143, 147, 149, and Sub-Section 3 (2) of the Maharashtra Prevention of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Inhuman and Inhumane Practices of Witchcraft Act.
The accused were produced before a local court and were sent to police custody for five days.
