Four Arrested After Jharkhand Mob Burns Mother and Infant Over Witchcraft Allegations
Updated (2 articles)
Mob Sets Fire to Home, Killing Mother and Infant dozen‑person mob, including five women, surrounded the Kudsai hamlet home on February 20, 2026 and ignited it despite husband Kolhan Sinku’s pleas for a village council resolution, killing his wife Jyoti Sinku and their 10‑month‑old son; the remote settlement lies about 250 km from Ranchi and consists of roughly 50 mud houses [1].
Four Men Detained on Murder and Conspiracy Charges Police arrested four men shortly after the blaze, registering murder and criminal conspiracy charges while forming a special investigative team to identify additional participants; Kolhan Sinku survived severe burns and remains hospitalized [1].
Authorities Launch Investigation and Anti‑Superstition Campaign The investigation continues with officials searching for other mob members and planning rural outreach programs aimed at combating superstition, reflecting a governmental response to the incident [1].
Context Shows Widespread Witchcraft‑Related Violence in India National Crime Records Bureau data indicate over 2,500 killings on witchcraft suspicions between 2000 and 2016, predominantly women, and the Jharkhand case follows a recent Bihar incident where five family members were similarly burned, underscoring a broader pattern of such violence [1].
Timeline
2000‑2016 – The National Crime Records Bureau records over 2,500 killings, mostly of women, on witchcraft accusations across India, highlighting a persistent pattern of superstition‑driven violence. [1]
2015 – Assam enacts the Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention, and Protection) Act, criminalising witch‑hunting and providing penalties under state law and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. [2]
2001‑2019 – Official Assam data show at least 160 people killed in witch‑hunting incidents across districts such as Chirang, Goalpara, Kokrajhar, Udalguri and Sonitpur, underscoring the long‑standing challenge. [2]
Dec 30, 2025 – A mob in Karbi Anglong district, Assam, burns alive 43‑year‑old Gardi Birowa and her 33‑year‑old partner Mira Birowa after accusing them of witchcraft, with police noting “the attack followed injuries inflicted with sharp weapons inside the home.” [2]
2025 – A recent case in neighboring Bihar sees five family members brutally killed and burned after witchcraft allegations, illustrating the spread of similar mob violence in the region. [1]
Feb 20, 2026 – In Kudsai hamlet, Jharkhand, a dozen‑person mob—including five women—sets fire to mother Jyoti Sinku and her 10‑month‑old son, killing them; husband Kolhan Sinku survives severe burns and tells police “I begged the mob to resolve the matter through a village council.” [1]
Feb 20, 2026 – Police arrest four men, register murder and criminal‑conspiracy charges, form a special investigation team, and announce plans to run rural anti‑superstition outreach programmes to prevent future witch‑hunting. [1]