Witchcraft-Hunting Elderly Woman Murdered in Mayurbhanj
ManojKanta Dash,Odishabarta
Baripada:,(28/02/26):A shocking case of superstitious belief in sorcery has surfaced in Mayurbhanj district, where an elderly unmarried woman was brutally murdered after being accused of practising witchcraft.
The incident took place late Friday night in Kumbhirda village under Bahalda police station limits.
The victim, identified as Jaba Tudu, was allegedly attacked by her neighbour, Yugu Marndi, who suspected her of being a witch.
Reports suggest Marndi struck her with a sickle while she slept alone, before setting her on fire. He later surrendered to police.
Local police rushed to the spot of crime on Saturday morning with a forensic team to collect evidence.
The body has been sent for post-mortem, and investigations are underway to determine the exact sequence of events.
Despite awareness drives and strict laws against witch-hunting, such crimes continue to haunt rural Odisha, raising urgent questions about social awareness and protection for vulnerable individuals.
