Daijiworld Media Network - West Singhbhum

West Singhbhum, Feb 18: A 32-year-old woman and her two-month-old child were allegedly burnt to death by family members on suspicion of practising witchcraft late Tuesday night in Kalaiya village of Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district.

The woman’s husband sustained severe burn injuries but managed to escape and reported the incident to police on Wednesday morning.

According to police, 40-year-old Kolhan Sinku said his wife Jyoti Sinku and their children — aged two years and two months — were asleep at home when some of his relatives called him outside.

“About a dozen men and women were already present in our courtyard. In between, my first wife also arrived. The group started accusing my second wife, Jyoti Sinku, of being a witch,” Kolhan alleged.

He claimed he tried to pacify the crowd, saying the matter could be resolved in the panchayat the next morning, but they refused to listen. Some persons allegedly brought petrol, poured it on the family and set them on fire. Jyoti and her newborn were engulfed in flames and died on the spot, while Kolhan managed to escape by removing his burning clothes.

He later went to a relative’s house and informed the police in the morning.

Police recovered the bodies from the spot and admitted Kolhan Sinku to Chaibasa Sadar Hospital for treatment.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that most of the accused are family members of Sinku.

West Singhbhum Superintendent of Police Amit Renu said four persons have been arrested so far, while efforts are underway to identify and apprehend others involved.

“We have identified some of the accused and arrested four persons in this regard. Investigation is still on and a team has been formed,” the SP said.

He added that preliminary findings suggest the crime is linked to witch-hunting.