Chaibasa (Jharkhand), February 18 – In a shocking incident that has sent ripples across Jharkhand, a woman and her minor son were burnt to death by a group of villagers in West Singhbhum district, officials said on Wednesday.
The incident occurred late Tuesday night within the jurisdiction of the Kumardungi police station.
According to police, the accused allegedly entered the family's house, poured petrol on the woman and her child, and set them on fire. Both died instantly.
The woman's husband also suffered severe burn injuries while trying to save them and has been admitted to a nearby hospital, where his condition is critical.
Preliminary investigations suggest that rumors had been circulating in the village for several days, linking the family to certain illnesses and other incidents. The woman was allegedly branded a "witch" by some villagers, which ultimately led to the brutal attack.
Police said that around 12 villagers allegedly conspired to commit the crime. In a dramatic turn, all 12 accused appeared at the Kumardungi police station on Wednesday morning and surrendered. They have since been taken into custody and are being questioned.
Senior police officials rushed to the scene to assess the situation, and additional forces have been deployed in the village to prevent any further unrest. A forensic team has also been deployed to collect evidence from the crime scene.
An FIR is being registered under relevant sections pertaining to murder, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy, and other serious offences.
Authorities said that a detailed investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events and identify any additional persons involved.
The incident has once again highlighted the persistent problem of witch-hunting in certain rural areas, despite stringent legal provisions against such practices.