Mob Assault on Elderly Man and Women in Palamu Over Witchcraft Allegations

Palamu, Sept 12 (PTI): In a disturbing incident in Jharkhand's Palamu district, two women and a 73-year-old man were assaulted by a mob over allegations of witchcraft. The incident took place in Dangwar village under the jurisdiction of Hussainabad police station on Sunday evening, but it only gained public attention after a video began circulating on social media on Thursday.

The Hussainabad Police Station in-charge, Sonu Kumar Chaudhary, reported that a police team was dispatched immediately after hearing of the event. They successfully rescued Bhagwan Mali, the elderly man, along with two women, both in their early 50s, from the aggressive crowd. Despite being encouraged by the police to file an FIR, no official complaint has been lodged by the victims' families so far.

The situation surfaced online after the video went viral on Thursday evening. Bhagwan Mali was taken by relatives to the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) hospital in Uttar Pradesh, where he is recovering and reported to be in a stable condition. The two women received primary medical attention at a private clinic in Dehri and have since been discharged.

The incident unfolded on the day of a local resident's funeral, held at Muktidham along the Son river's bank. Some villagers returned after the rites but noticed Mali and the two women standing near the pyre. They were accused of engaging in "tantra mantra" or occult practices. News of this reached relatives of the deceased, who then allegedly attacked the trio under accusations of witchcraft.

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