Sentenced to Five Years Imprisonment for Inhumane Treatment Related to Alleged Witchcraft

  April 2, 2024 By: INSEC

The Court sentenced Chedi Sada, 54, and his son Srichan Sada, 31, to imprisonment and imposed a them fine on March 29 for beating and subjecting 42-year-old Hiradevi Amaat of Mahadeva Rural Municipality-5 to inhumane treatment, accusing her of a witch.

The bench of the District Judge Tilak Bahadur Karki sentenced the accused to 5 years of imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 50,000 and ordered them to pay Rs 25,000 as compensation. The court decided to adjourn the case of 47-year-old Fulwadevi Sada, Chedi’s wife as she is currently absconding.

The victim filed a complaint  against the accused at the District Police Office on December 12, 2021. She stated that the accused verbally abused and physically assaulted her, alleging that she was responsible for the illness of their family members and cattle. Subsequently, they entered her house, beat her and even forced her to consume excrement. In addition, when the victim’s husband, Sanjay Kumar Mandal, 43, attempted to save her, he was hit with an iron rod and a sharp weapon.

The locals initially took the victims to the Jwalamukhi Treatment Center in Hanumannagar, Kankalini Municipality. However, they were transferred to Chinnamasta Hospital and Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital in Rajbiraj due to inadequate treatment. The victims were examined at the Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital on 16 December.

The victim filed a complaint in the High Court Janakpur Rajbiraj Bench seeking an injunction on December 28, 2021 after the district police office did not register the complaint. Subsequently, the court issued the order on March 30, 2022. After receiving the information about the Court order on May 18, 2022, the district police office registered the complaint on July 19.

A charge sheet was filed in the district court on October 20, 2022 after the police submitted a report stating that the accused were not found. Subsequently, an arrest warrant was issued against the accused on December 4. Accused Chedi and Srichan, who appeared in the District Court were staying in Rajbiraj Jail since February 28, 2023 for pre-trial detention.


Manohar Kumar Pokharel