Woman branded witch, shot dead in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district

Sita Devi, 50, was allegedly held responsible for the death of a calf, born premature, and shot dead in Naugachia subdivision of Bhagalpur district.

A woman was branded witch and shot dead after a calf, born premature, died in Bhagalpur district of east Bihar.

The body of the victim was recovered from a field in Naugachia subdivision of Bhagalpur district.(Representative image)

Police said Sita Devi, 50, of Singhkund village in Naugachia subdivision of Bhagalpur, 230 km east of Patna, was allegedly held responsible for the premature delivery by the cow of her co-villager Chandan Mehta and killed on Monday afternoon.

Her body was recovered from a field outside the village, where she had gone to graze her cattle, on Monday night, the police said.

READ: 65-year-old tribal woman hacked to death for practising witchcraft in Bihar village

Naugachia (police district) superintendent of police Pankaj Kumar Sinha said Mehta and six other persons had been made accused in the FIR lodged in connection with the incident. Four accused persons had been arrested, but Mehta was still at large, Sinha added.

The SP said Sita Devi’s sister-in-law Radha Devi was also charged with practising witchcraft and assaulted two days back.

“The police are investigating if same people were involved in both the incidents,” the SP added.