Women Branded As Witches, Brutally Thrashed; They Thought Women Were Responsible For Illnesses

Three women from a village in Devgadh Baria taluka branded as witches were beaten up badly by men from the village including the relatives of the women. The men believed that women were responsible for illnesses in the village, a report in TOI said.

An offence registered at the Sagtala police station by Batli Chaku Bariya _ a widow residing in the Dabhva Matajinu Faliyu village of Devgadh Baria taluka _ states that the incident took place on Sunday evening when she, her daughter-in-law Kana Baria and Kana¡¯s two daughters were working in their farm.

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Seven accused had approached the women

Seven accused including Aapsing Dhira Baria, Kanu Dhira Baria, Nagin Aapsing Baria, Dhanji Mohan Rathwa, Chetan Dhanji Rathwa, Vinod Mohan Rathwa and Chandrasinh Mohan Rathwa approached the women hurling abuses when they saw them working in the farm. According to Batli, Aapsing, Kanu and Nagin were related to her.

While Aapsing was armed with a pipe, the other accused were carrying sticks. Batli has said that the group beat up Kana and her two daughters alleging that it was because of them that animals and people were falling sick in the village.

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Batli raised an alarm and rushed to inform her sons. By the time the sons came, the accused had left the place.

The injured women were rushed to Godhra for treatment. The police received information regarding the incident on Monday evening and an offence was registered at the Sagtala police station. The accused are yet to be detained by the police.