A tragic case of murder has come to light from Jharkhand’s Dumka district. Here, a 41-year-old man allegedly murdered his 70-year-old mother. The murder was carried on a suspicion that she practiced witchcraft. The shocking incident occurred on October 28 in Bhadra Digha village under the Gopikander police station area. Police identified the accused as Ramjan Hembrom and the victim as Muni Soren.

According to the investigation, Ramjan attacked his mother late at night, stabbing her multiple times with a knife. Severely injured, the woman was admitted to Phulo Jhano Medical College and Hospital in Dumka, where she succumbed to her injuries on November 2.

Suspect Blamed Mother for Daughter’s Death

Police said the accused believed his mother had used black magic to cause the death of his 18-year-old daughter, who had passed away a few months earlier after a prolonged illness. Local villagers told police that Ramjan’s daughter had frequently accused her grandmother of performing witchcraft while she was ill, which intensified the man’s suspicions.

“While she was ill, she often used to say that her grandmother was the cause of her illness, claiming she had practiced black magic on her. After a prolonged illness, his daughter died, but Ramjan harbored a suspicion that her mother had killed his daughter through witchcraft,” said a villager requesting anonymity.

Consumed by grief and alcohol, Ramjan allegedly stormed into his sister’s in-laws’ home, where his mother had been staying to escape his violent behavior, and attacked her in a fit of rage. Officer-in-Charge of Gopikander Police Station, Sumit Bhagat, confirmed that the accused confessed to the crime after his arrest.

Previous Attempts and Arrest

Police revealed that Ramjan had previously attempted to harm his mother, forcing her to move away for safety. Following her death, her daughter filed a formal complaint, leading to Ramjan’s arrest from his residence in Madhuban on Sunday. He has been remanded to judicial custody, and the weapon used in the attack, along with blood-stained clothes, has been recovered.

“Holding his mother responsible for the death of his daughter, he went to his sister’s in-laws’ place and attacked his mother with a knife in a fit of rage. She was stabbed multiple times on her body, following which, she was taken to the hospital in an injured condition and died during treatment on Sunday,” police said.

“The accused admitted that he was heavily intoxicated and overcome with anger while recalling his daughter’s death,” Bhagat said.

Growing Concern Over Witch-Hunting in Jharkhand

Authorities noted that witchcraft-related violence continues to plague parts of Jharkhand, especially in remote, illiterate, and forested regions. Citing National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, officials said over 2,500 women have been killed across India on accusations of witchcraft since 2000, with Jharkhand reporting a high number of such cases.

“It was only after the death of the woman that her daughter lodged a complaint against her brother for the murder. He suspected his mother to be practicing witchcraft, and held her responsible for his 18-year-old daughter’s recent death,” Police said.

Police to Launch Awareness Campaign

In response to the incident, Dumka Police announced plans to organize awareness sessions under the Jharkhand Witchcraft Prevention Act, 2001, in collaboration with the District Legal Services Authority (DALSA). The initiative aims to educate villagers about the legal and social consequences of witch-hunting and superstitious practices.

“We will be holding talks with the District Legal Services Authority (DALSA) to conduct awareness camps in villages, which are located in dense forests and where illiteracy is quite high, leading to such incidents,” he added.

“This tragic incident shows how superstition and ignorance continue to claim innocent lives,” Bhagat said. “We will conduct awareness camps in remote areas to help prevent such crimes in the future.”

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