Police arrested 43-year-old Rashidani Khatun of Chinnamasta Rural Municipality-4 Lalapatti on October 27 for accusing her 74-year-old mother-in-law of witchcraft and attempting to feed the victim human excrement.
In the process of taking Rashidani’s sick daughter to a witch doctor, the witch doctor claimed that the mother-in-law, Johara Khatun, had caused the illness through witchcraft and stated that an exorcism was necessary. Following this, on November 7, 2023, the victim was assaulted while an attempt was made to force her to consume human excrement. Subsequently, she filed a complaint at the district police office on the same day. After the district police office did not register the complaint, the victim filed a writ at the High Court Janakpur Rajbiraj bench. Following the court’s order, the district police office registered the complaint on 11 August 2024.
Other accused individuals, including 60-year-old Budhilal Yadav, also known as Budhilal Das, 55-year-old Dambar Yadav, 57-year-old Jigyani Devi Khanga, and 50-year-old Manbharan, also known as Manoj Khanga, are currently absconding. Locals reported that the victim was subjected to abuse and mistreatment under allegations of witchcraft at the instruction of Budhilal Yadav.