Dalit woman branded witch, beaten up, stripped, forced to eat faeces in India
According to son, relatives burnt her with coals and disrobed her before beating her to death
According to her son, their relatives reportedly burnt her with coals and disrobed her before beating her to death. PHOTO COURTESY: NDTV
AJMER:
At least five people, including two teenage girls, of a family have been arrested for allegedly killing a 40-year-old woman in Rajasthan's Ajmer district, said an NDTV report.
The woman, also a widow, was allegedly made to eat faeces, tortured and beaten to death by her own relatives, who accused her of being a witch, the police said.
'Witch' killings haunt India's remote villages
The incident reportedly took place on August 2 but came to light on August 13 after an FIR was registered by the victim's brother. The woman's 15-year-old son is the only eyewitness in the case.
According to him, after his father died in July, their relatives began to harass his mother. They reportedly attacked her, branded her a witch, burnt her with coals, and even disrobed her. After her alleged killing, they cremated her in a hurry, which the police said has led to the destruction of crucial evidence.
"Kanya Devi Raigar was branded a witch and severely tortured before being beaten to death. She was also made to eat faeces by her relatives," said Superintendent of Police (SP) of Ajmer, Rajendra Singh.
Without land, we have no power: Indian Dalit land rights activist
There have been reports that the relatives also gouged out her eyes with a hot rod.
"Thorough interrogation of the accused will reveal what transpired that day," Singh said.
This story originally appeared on NDTV.
At least five people, including two teenage girls, of a family have been arrested for allegedly killing a 40-year-old woman in Rajasthan's Ajmer district, said an NDTV report.
The woman, also a widow, was allegedly made to eat faeces, tortured and beaten to death by her own relatives, who accused her of being a witch, the police said.
'Witch' killings haunt India's remote villages
The incident reportedly took place on August 2 but came to light on August 13 after an FIR was registered by the victim's brother. The woman's 15-year-old son is the only eyewitness in the case.
According to him, after his father died in July, their relatives began to harass his mother. They reportedly attacked her, branded her a witch, burnt her with coals, and even disrobed her. After her alleged killing, they cremated her in a hurry, which the police said has led to the destruction of crucial evidence.
"Kanya Devi Raigar was branded a witch and severely tortured before being beaten to death. She was also made to eat faeces by her relatives," said Superintendent of Police (SP) of Ajmer, Rajendra Singh.
Without land, we have no power: Indian Dalit land rights activist
There have been reports that the relatives also gouged out her eyes with a hot rod.
"Thorough interrogation of the accused will reveal what transpired that day," Singh said.
This story originally appeared on NDTV.