Chhattisgarh: Woman killed for ‘practising witchcraft’; husband, 3 others held

He blamed her for their inability to conceive children. The murder occurred after the victim’s altercation with her husband’s second wife

Published on: Mar 10, 2026, 13:15:14 IST

By Ritesh Mishra, Raipur

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A 48-year-old woman in Chhattisgarh was killed by her husband and three others, after he accused her of practising witchcraft, blamed her for their inability to conceive a child and causing his father to get cancer, police said on Tuesday, adding that the three have been arrested.

The incident occurred in Gatti Mahua village in the tribal-dominated district of Jashpur. The victim was identified as Goidi Bai, 48, wife of Thupan Ram.

The matter came to light on March 6 when Sahlu Ram, 30, the victim’s younger brother, went to Sanna police station and told police that his sister had died in suspicious circumstances in her house. Police started an investigation and found bloodstains on and around the body and visible injury marks on the body. An autopsy confirmed murder and said the death was caused due to severe injuries inflicted by a hard and blunt object.

Police registered a case under Sections 103(1) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Sanna police station, questioned several villagers and family members and then arrested the victim’s husband Thupan Ram, 45, his other wife Phula Bai, 48, and two locals — Sunil Ram, 23, and his wife Suranti Bai, 22.

During interrogation, Phula Bai told police that she had a heated argument with Goidi Bai at their house at 2pm on March 5, which escalated into a physical altercation. Some time later, Thupan Ram allegedly lured Goidi Bai into a hut where Phula Bai and the other two accused were also present. They began consuming hadiya, a locally brewed traditional liquor, and then Sunil Ram accused Goidi Bai of practising witchcraft and held her responsible for his family’s misfortunes, including his inability to have a child and his father suffering from cancer, police said.

The four then killed her, police said. The accused then carried the body back to her house, placed it on a bed and covered it with a blanket, police said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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