Police arrested Laldev Pandit, 53, of Swarna Rural Municipality-8 on September 28 for beating Surujkali Devi Pandit, 33 over witchcraft allegations. On September 27, Surujkali was reportedly attacked by a group including Babusaheb Yadav, 35, Bikram Pandit,55, Laldev Pandit, 53, and Suresh Yadav, 45 who allegedly made her partially naked, cut her hair, and beat her, leaving her injured. According to DSP Bijayaraj Pandit, the victim filed a complaint against the accused at the Bara District Police Office on September 28. The victim stated that following a dispute over the construction of a forced pathway on her private land, she had filed a complaint at the area police post against the accused on September 27. While returning, the accused alleged her of witch and abused her.
Surujkali received initial treatment at the Kalaiya Hospital and was later taken to Narayani Hospital in Birgunj as per her husband Bhushan Pandit. Among the accused, Laldev Pandit has been arrested by the police, while the others are absconding and being searched for according to DSP Pandit of the District Police Office.
Madhesh Province Office