Patna/Munger: Two brothers were seriously injured in a knife attack in a village in Bihar’s Munger district after their mother was accused of being a “witch”, in what police described as a case driven by superstition and deeply entrenched beliefs.
The incident took place in Sadi village under Tarapur police station limits, where the victims, Badal Kumar and Aman Kumar, were allegedly attacked by their uncle, Sanjay Ram, and another relative, Ajay Ram. A first information report (FIR) was registered on Monday on Badal Kumar’s complaint, two days after the assault.
According to the police complaint, the accused arrived at the family home and began abusing the woman, accusing her of practising witchcraft and threatening to kill her. Badal Kumar alleged that they were accompanied by a self-styled faith healer who supported the accusations and tried to pressure the family through rituals and intimidation.
The dispute reportedly escalated after a child in the family fell ill. The victims said they wanted proper medical treatment, but the accused objected and insisted on supernatural explanations and remedies. During the confrontation, the accused accused the woman of practising witchcraft and allegedly pulled out knives and assaulted Badal Kumar, leaving him with serious injuries.
When his brother Aman Kumar tried to intervene, he was also stabbed, suffering a deep wound near his shoulder and arm. A younger brother, Ankit Kumar, was beaten with sticks. All three were taken for medical treatment, where their condition was described as stable.
The family further alleged that the attackers vandalised their house and damaged valuable property. “Because of their criminal behaviour, we are living in constant fear,” Badal Kumar said in his complaint, seeking police protection for his family. Local police confirmed that a case had been registered and that an investigation was underway. “Action will be taken against those responsible after a thorough inquiry,” an officer at Tarapur police station said.
Witch-hunting remains a persistent problem in parts of rural India, particularly in Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh, where women are often targeted over illness, family disputes or land and property conflicts. Despite legal provisions against branding someone a witch, activists say superstition and lack of awareness continue to put vulnerable families at risk of violence.
