Woman and Infant Burned Alive in Jharkhand Over Witchcraft Accusations, Four Arrested

In Jharkhand, India, a woman, Jyoti Sinku, and her 10-month-old son were allegedly burned alive by a mob on suspicion of practising witchcraft, while her husband was severely injured and hospitalized. Four people have been arrested, and police are searching for additional suspects. The incident highlights ongoing superstition-related violence in tribal communities with limited access to healthcare.

In the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand, four individuals have been arrested for allegedly burning a woman, Jyoti Sinku, and her 10-month-old son alive earlier this week on suspicion of practising witchcraft. Jyoti’s husband, Kolhan Sinku, was also attacked during the incident and suffered severe burns; he is currently receiving treatment in hospital. Police authorities have indicated that the search is ongoing for additional people who may have been involved in the attack, and the accused individuals taken into custody have not made any public statements regarding the allegations.
The tragic incident occurred in Kudsai, a remote tribal hamlet consisting of around 50 mud houses, located roughly 250 kilometres (155 miles) from Ranchi, the state capital. Reports suggest that the violence was triggered by recent events in the village, including the sudden deaths of local cattle and the illness and subsequent passing of a man named Pustun Birua. Pustun’s wife, Jano Birua, said she had consulted an informal healthcare provider, which is common in villages where no trained doctors are available, after he began experiencing anxiety and fainting spells. The provider reportedly found no physical illness. Following these events, rumours began to circulate in the village that Jyoti Sinku was practising witchcraft and was responsible for Pustun Birua’s condition and death.
On Tuesday evening, a mob of approximately a dozen people, including five women, attacked Jyoti’s home. Kolhan Sinku, speaking from his hospital bed, recalled the horrific events, saying he had pleaded with the attackers with folded hands to allow the matter to be resolved through the village council, but his appeals were ignored. The mob proceeded to set fire to his wife and child, resulting in their deaths.
Following the attack, the district police have registered complaints of murder and criminal conspiracy, drawing on the testimonies of Kolhan Sinku and other family members. Four men have been arrested in connection with the crime, and a special police team has been formed to locate and apprehend other individuals involved in the mob. Authorities also announced plans to conduct awareness programs in rural areas to educate communities about the dangers of superstitions and to discourage violent actions based on unfounded beliefs.
Incidents such as this are part of a wider pattern in India, where accusations of witchcraft have historically led to violence against women. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, more than 2,500 people, the majority of them women, were killed between 2000 and 2016 on suspicion of practising witchcraft. Similar cases have been reported in neighbouring Bihar state, including a recent incident in which five members of a family were allegedly burned alive over accusations of witchcraft. These violent acts are often concentrated in areas inhabited by disadvantaged tribal communities, where superstition is prevalent and the lack of formal healthcare systems leads residents to rely on informal or untrained medical practitioners.
The Jharkhand case underscores the lethal combination of superstition, poverty, and inadequate access to healthcare in isolated rural communities. It has drawn national attention to the ongoing issue of witchcraft-related violence in India, highlighting the urgent need for community education, legal enforcement, and accessible healthcare to prevent such tragedies from recurring. Authorities emphasize that while arrests have been made, the investigation continues as they work to ensure accountability for all those involved in the attack.