5 Killed on Suspicion of Witchcraft in Chhattisgarh

Sukma | Correspondent: In a horrifying incident, five members of a family were lynched on suspicion of practicing witchcraft in Etkal village, located in the Koilibeda area of Konta, Sukma district, Chhattisgarh. Among the victims, three were women, raising concerns over the rising violence fueled by superstition in the region.

This tragic event follows a similar case just days earlier in Baloda Bazar, where four people were also murdered due to allegations of witchcraft.

The Sukma killings occurred on Sunday, with police confirming that a large mob of villagers was involved. The victims have been identified as Mausam Kanna (60), his son Mausam Buchcha (34), Mrs. Mausam Biri (wife of Mausam Kanna), Mrs. Karka Lachchi (43), and Mrs. Mausam Arjo (32, wife of Mausam Buchcha). All five victims were brutally beaten to death in a premeditated attack by fellow villagers, who accused them of practicing black magic.

District Superintendent of Police, Chauhan Kiran Gangaram, confirmed the details of the incident. “The villagers, driven by superstition, accused the family of practicing witchcraft and united to carry out this heinous act,” he said.

The police have taken the suspects into custody and are currently interrogating them to identify all individuals involved.

Initial investigations suggest that the victims had been facing suspicion and hostility from other villagers for some time. Tensions escalated when several unexplained illnesses occurred in the village, which the locals attributed to witchcraft. The family was then targeted as the cause of these misfortunes.

Superstition and fear of black magic run deep in several remote areas of Chhattisgarh, especially in tribal-dominated regions. Despite awareness campaigns and legal measures, cases of violence against people accused of witchcraft continue to surface, often resulting in brutal killings.