On June 25, the District Court sentenced 25-year-old Manoj Chaudhary and 27-year-old Rupa Chaudhary of Gaunaihya, Bhajani Municipality-1, to five years in prison for beating and injuring a 26-year-old woman after accusing her of witchcraft. In the same case, the court also sentenced 55-year-old Baburam Chaudhary, 38-year-old Lahanu Chaudhary, 29-year-old Karan Chaudhary, and 30-year-old Jayaram Chaudhary, all residents of the same place, to one year in prison each.
Pankaj Upadhyay, Information Officer at the District Court, Kailali, stated that a bench of Judge Harisingh Dhami found the accused guilty and sentenced Manoj and Rupa to five years in prison along with a fine of Rs 45,000 each. The court also sentenced Baburam, Lahanu, Karan, and Jayaram to one year in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 150,000 each.
The aggrieved party filed a complaint against the accused at the Area Police Office, Bhajani, on 20 December 2024, stating that the victim was physically abused and injured on 19 December accusing her of practicing witchcraft.
The police filed a case against the accused under the alleged witchcraft charge at the District Court through the Government Attorney’s Office. On January 9, the District Court sent Manoj Chaudhary and Rupa Chaudhary to custody for further investigation, while Baburam Chaudhary, Lahanu Chaudhary, Karan Chaudhary, and Jayaram Chaudhary were released on bail.
The injured woman was admitted to the ICU of Navajiwan Hospital in Dhangadhi for treatment.