The court has sentenced Ramkumar Yadav, 62, of Bishnupur Rural Municipality-2 Simraha Sigyoun and residing in Rajviraj Municipality-6, to 15 days imprisonment, on June 13, 2023, for inhumane treatment relating to a witchcraft allegation, of Kavita Mishra, 42, of Parajviraj Municipality-6.
According to the bench officer of the court, Kumar Subedi, the bench of District Judge Hemant Rawal sentenced the accused to 15 days imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 10,000 rupees and compensation of Rs. 15,000.
The accused’s sons; Ramesh Kumar Yadav, 31, Rajesh Kumar Yadav,29, Umesh Kumar Yadav, 27, his brother, Ramadhin Yadav, 54, and his wife Panchidevi Yadav, 44, were acquitted. Accused Ramkumar is a retired Secretary of the Former Village Development Commitee and former Vice Chairperson of the Village Development Rights and Interest Protection Commitee.
The victim complained to the District Police Office on October 30, 2019, and accused Yadav of beating her and her daughters accusing them of witchcraft on October 28. After the police refused to register the complaint, District Public Prosecutor’s Office Saptari sent a formal letter to the District Police Office, on November 11, to register the complaint.
Accused Ramkumar said that although there was a dispute over the vegetable garden, he had not accused them of witchcraft or treated them in an inhumane manner. The district police office stated they received complaints of verbal abuse and physical complaint from both parties. The District Police Office stated that the complaint of alleged witchcraft was not registered as it was not true.
The victim filed a writ injunction in the Janakpur Rajviraj High Court against District Police Office, for not registering a complaint despite an official letter from the public prosecutor’s office. After the district police office did not register a complaint in violation of the High Court’s order of January 8, 2019, the victim filed a complaint on February 23, 2019, of contempt of court against the police. Advocate Shankar Kumar Mishra said that after the registration of the complaint, the district police office registered a complaint against the alleged on March 12, 2020. Unable to arrest the accused, the police filed a charge sheet in the district court on August 27, 2019.