Mother and Infant Burned Alive Over Witchcraft Allegations
Four arrested as police investigate mob attack in remote tribal village
- Jyoti Sinku and her 10-month-old son killed in mob attack; husband hospitalized.
- Attack linked to superstition following illness of a local villager.
- Police arrest four; public awareness programs planned to curb superstition.
Police in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand have arrested four people for allegedly burning a woman, Jyoti Sinku, and her 10-month-old son alive over accusations of practising witchcraft. The woman’s husband, Kolhan Sinku, was also attacked and sustained severe burns; he is receiving treatment in hospital. Authorities are searching for additional suspects.
The attack took place in Kudsai, a remote tribal hamlet of about 50 mud houses located roughly 250 km from Ranchi, the state capital. Local reports suggest the violence was sparked by rumours linking Jyoti Sinku to the illness and eventual death of a villager, Pustun Birua.
Kolhan Sinku recalled pleading for a resolution through the village council, but a mob of around a dozen people, including five women, set fire to his home, killing his wife and child. Police have filed murder and criminal conspiracy charges and deployed a special team to apprehend remaining suspects.
The incident highlights a persistent problem in parts of rural India, where superstition and a lack of access to healthcare contribute to attacks on women accused of witchcraft. Between 2000 and 2016, over 2,500 people—mostly women—were reportedly killed on similar allegations, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.
Authorities plan to launch awareness programs in rural areas to combat superstitions and prevent such tragedies in the future.
