Witch Database
Date: March 27, 2007
Location: Saudi Arabia
Description: Abdul Hamid Bin Hussain Bin Moustafa Al-Fakki was sentenced to death by a Madina court onMarch 27, 2007, after he was accused of producing a spell that would reconcile his client's divorced parents. His “client” was a man working for the Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (CPVPV), and offered 6,000 Saudi Arabien riyals (about US$1600) for the service. Abdul was arrested on December 8, 2005, and confessed after being questioned and, apparently, beaten. The trial was held in secret, the current state of his case is not known, and it is not known when or if he will be executed.
Source: Amnesty International. (Saturday, May 15, 2010). Sudanese man facing execution in Saudi Arabia over 'sorcery' charges. Afrik-News. http://www.afrik-news.com/article17642.html
Date: March 12, 2009
Location: Albany, New York, USA
Description: Carole A. Smith, 49, and a Wiccan, was a probationary employees with TSA at Albany International Airport. She had been harassed because of her religion. Her former mentor, Mary Bagnoli, complained that Smith followed her home – although she didn't see Smith, and on the only highway that led to Smith's home – and casting a spell on her car heater. That prompted an investigation into Smith regarding workplace violence. Smith was fired from her job, and challenged the dismissal. In court, there was disagreement about the extent to which religion, disciplinary problems, and retaliation for complaints about lax security were involved.
Source: Dedman, B. (March 28, 2011). Whistle-blowing witch grounded by TSA. NBC News. http://www.nbcnews.com/id/41959553/ns/business-us_business/t/whistle-blowing-witch-grounded-tsa/#.V0jm0_n7s_s
Date: ca. February 14, 2015
Location: Geita region of Tanzania
Description: Yohana Bahati, one year old and albino, was taken from his home by five men with machetes. Two days later the police found his body with the arms and legs chopped off. The mother was treated at the hospital for cuts to her face and arms, inflicted when she tried to defend the baby. Albino body parts are used for witchcraft in that part of Africa; a complete set of body parts can be worth $75,000. Family members are often involved, and Yohana's father was questioned but not charged.
Source: Cowell, A. (February 20, 2015). Fears persist that violence against albinos in Tanzania will grow. The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/21/world/africa/fears-persist-that-violence-against-albinos-in-tanzania-will-grow.html?_r=0
Date: December, 2014
Location: Tanzania
Description: Pendo Emmanuelle Nundi, a 4-year-old albino girl, was kidnapped by an armed gang; her body had not yet been recovered.
Source: Source: Dedman, B. (March 28, 2011). Whistle-blowing witch grounded by TSA. NBC News. http://www.nbcnews.com/id/41959553/ns/business-us_business/t/whistle-blowing-witch-grounded-tsa/#.V0jm0_n7s_s
Date: May, 2008
Location: Western Tanzania
Description:Vumila, 17, an albino African, was eating dinner with her family when two men with long knives forced their way into the hut. They sawed off Vumila's legs above the knee, and ran away with them. Vumila died. In Tanzania, albinos are thought to have magical properties, and their body parts are used for making magic.
Source: Gettleman, J. (June 8, 2008). Albinos, long shunned, face threates in Tanzania. The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/world/africa/08albino.html?_r=0
Date: May, 2008
Location: Kenya
Description: An albino woman was hacked to death, and her eyes, tongue, and breasts gouged out and taken for use in making magic.
Source: Gettleman, J. (June 8, 2008). Albinos, long shunned, face threates in Tanzania. The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/world/africa/08albino.html?_r=0
Date: n/a
Location: Eket, Nigeria
Description: Nwanaoko, nine years old, was accused by a local pastor, of the Mount Zion Lighthouse Church, of being a witch. Attempting an exorcism, his father poured acid on him, searing his face and eyes. Nwanaoko died a month later.
Source: (October 20, 2009). Kindesmisshandlung: Die “Hexenkinder” von Nigeria. Spiegel Online. http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/gesellschaft/kindesmisshandlung-die-hexenkinder-von-nigeria-a-656308.html
Date: n/a
Location: Nigeria
Description: Abigail Eyekang, eight years old, was denounced as a witch by the Apostolic Church Nigeria. Her mother, Margaret, paid for repeated excorcisms, without success, and is now broke. Abigail was beaten by neighbors. Margaret took refuge with relatives, Abigail lives on the street.
Source: (October 20, 2009). Kindesmisshandlung: Die “Hexenkinder” von Nigeria. Spiegel Online. http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/gesellschaft/kindesmisshandlung-die-hexenkinder-von-nigeria-a-656308.html
Date: n/a
Location: Presumably Nigeria
Description: Jane, who runs a home for “witch children” that had been ejected from their homes, was denounced by a pastor as a witch when she was a child. Repeated excorcisms were unsuccessful, and her mother tried to saw her skull cap off. Jane still has the scar. Mary, a 15 year old in the home, had caustic soda poured on her face, which remains scarred. Rachel, 12 years old, was chained by a pastor, starved, and beaten with sticks. Israel's cousin tried to bury him alive. Nwaekwa's father drove a nail into her head. Jerry was beaten by his pastor, starved, forced to eat cement, and then set on fire by his father.
Source: (October 20, 2009). Kindesmisshandlung: Die “Hexenkinder” von Nigeria. Spiegel Online. http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/gesellschaft/kindesmisshandlung-die-hexenkinder-von-nigeria-a-656308.html
Date: ca. March 6, 2014
Location: Bihar, India
Description: A married couple (not identified in the article) were beaten to death in a village in the state of Bihar, in India. There are suspects (not identified in the article). One of the suspects blames the wife for the protracted illness of his son, so the witch and her family were attacked. The daughter of the couple is being treated at the hospital for injuries.
Source: (March 6, 2014). Ehepaar wegen Hexerei-Verdachts in Indien zu Tode geprügelt. Augsburger Allgemeine. http://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/newsticker/Ehepaar-wegen-Hexerei-Verdachts-in-Indien-zu-Tode-gepruegelt-id29105662.html
Names of Witches: Sushil Oraon, Jibi Oraon
Sex of witch: female, female
Description of witch:
Names of Victims:
Description of Victims:
Location: Lawagai village, Lohardaga district, state of Jharkhand, India
Date: March 10, 2012
Specific Accusations:
Persecution: Killed – throats slit
Description of Event: “The police said the killings were the result of witchcraft being widely practised in the remote villages of Jharkhand.” “The ministry pointed out that the real motive behind the killings was usurpation of the helpless women's movable and immovable property.”
Source: (May 12, 2012). “Witchcraft claims lives of four women in Jharkhand”. The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Witchcraft-claims-lives-of-four-women-in-Jharkhand/articleshow/13107605.cms?referral=PM
Who: Budhva Mahali, Etwari Mahali
Sex of witch: male, female
Description of witch: husband and wife
Location: Haslata village, Gumla district, state of Jharkhand, India
Date: April 16, 2012
Specific Accusations: “The police said the killings were the result of witchcraft being practised widely in the remote villages of Jharkhand.”
Persecution: Budhva was decapitated, Etwari “suffered a macabre death”
Description of Event: “The ministry pointed out that the real motive behind the killings was usurpation of the helpless women's movable and immovable property.”
Source: (May 12, 2012). “Witchcraft claims lives of four women in Jharkhand”. The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Witchcraft-claims-lives-of-four-women-in-Jharkhand/articleshow/13107605.cms?referral=PM
Names of Witches: Baidhar Singh, Sudarshan Singh
Sex of witch:
Description of witch: From Niligiri area of Balasore district; known to have practiced witchcraft, according to Dayanidhi Gochhayat, the superintendent of police, Khurda
Names of victims: son of Kulu Das
Sex of victims: male
Description of victims: four-year-old boy
Location: Khurda town, Khurda district, state of Odisha, India
Date: ca. Monday, November 25, 2013
Specific Accusations: Killed the victim
Persecution: Arrested; outcome not known
Description of Event: The victim went missing on November 21, 2013. The body was found on a hilltop about 25 km from Khurda town. Baidhar and Sudarshan were arrested on suspicion of murder, and police superintendent Gochhayat suspects the victim was killed for the purpose of human sacrifice.
Source: (Monday, November 25, 2013). Boy killed for witchcraft in Odisha. Z News. http://zeenews.india.com/news/odisha/boy-killed-for-witchcraft-in-odisha_892397.html
Names of Witches: Patrangi Bai, Sukhmanya Bai
Sex of witch: female, female
Description of witch: ages 50 and 52
Names of victims:
Sex of victims: male, male, male
Description of victims: Fathers of Amrit, Ranjeet, and Sandeep
Location: Maluatoli village, Balrumpur district, North Chhattisgarh, India
Date: August 13, 2013
Specific Accusations: Amrit's and Ranjeet's fathers died, Sandeep's father continuously ill
Persecution: strangled, then throats cut
Description of Event: Amrit Tirki, 24, Sandeep, 23, and Ranjeet Toppo, 26, residents of the same village, were arrested on suspicion of murdering the women. “During interrogation, the accused admitted that they had questioned those women about their involvement in witchcraft practices, but they refused to speak. This infuriated the boys who first strangled them and later slit their throat”. The boys believe that it was those women that had killed Amrit's and Ranjeet's fathers, and caused Sandeep's father to become ill. Fate of the killers is unreported.
Source: Drolia, Rashmi. (August 15, 2013). Two branded witches, lynched to death. The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/raipur/Two-branded-witches-lynched-to-death/articleshow/21836280.cms?referral=PM
Names of Witches: Jonathan Baghe
Sex of witch: male
Description of witch: age 65, ex-armyman
Names of victims: Dawood Baghe's daughter
Sex of victims: female
Description of victims: died of a snake bite
Location: Simdega village, Jharkhand, India
Date: October 2, 2011
Specific Accusations:
Persecution: axed to death
Description of Event: Jonathan was “axed to death by villagers” for allegedly practicing witchcraft which led to the death of Baghe's daughter by snakebite. The incident took place after Jonathan had advised the familyto ring a bell after the burial of their daughter. Fate of the killers is unreported.
Source: (October 4, 2011). Ex-armyman killed for alleged witchcraft. NDTV. http://www.ndtv.com/cities/ex-armyman-killed-for-alleged-witchcraft-573386
Names of Witches: Binanda Gaur, Karishma Gaur, Naina Gaur, Manglu Mour
Sex of witch: male, female, female, ?
Description of witch: father, 46, wife, 36, daughter, 15, neighbor, 14
Names of victims: none
Sex of victims:
Description of victims:
Location: Monabarie Tea Estate,
Date: June, 2011
Specific Accusations: none
Persecution: rape, murder, faces burned with acid
Description of Event: False accusation. Surat Modi accused Binanda Gaur and his family of practicing witchcraft that caused sickness among plantation workers, for the purpose of sexually molesting Karishma and her daughter. They were dragged out to the ditch at midnight, raped, and killed. The others had been killed earlier. Six of the seven killers had been arrested.
Source: Karmakar, Rahul. (June 24, 2011). Rape behind witch-hunt murders in assam, 6 held. Hindustan Times. http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/rape-behind-witch-hunt-murders-in-assam-6-held/story-AfL7FNmWeRrLxE2IZxIimL.html
Names of Witches: Mangar Bhuyan
Sex of witch: male
Description of witch:
Names of victims:
Sex of victims:
Description of victims:
Location: Aradhih village, Latehar district, Jharkhand, India
Date: August, 2012
Specific Accusations: “practicing witchcraft”
Persecution: “thrashed”, then buried alive
Description of Event: Five persons dragged Mangar from his house, “thrashed” him, and buried him alive, for practicing witchcraft. At the time of reporting, “raids were being carried out” to arrest the killers.
Source: (August 20, 2012). Man thrashed, buried alive on suspicion of witchcraft. NDTV. http://www.ndtv.com/cities/man-thrashed-buried-alive-on-suspicion-of-witchcraft-497309
Date: November, 2013
Names of Witches: Fulo Topono, Suggi Topono
Sex of witch: female, female
Description of witch: mother, 50, and daughter, 30. Suggi was the youngest of three daughters, and a spinster who lived with her mother. Fulo's husband died several years earlier, and after than the villagers suspected the two women of being witches.
Specific Accusations: “practiced black magic that made many children ill”
Names of victims:
Sex of victims:
Description of victims: village children
Location: Torpa, Khunti district, Jharkhand, India
Persecution: throats cut; Suggi then stabbed several times
Description of Event: “According to villagers, the mother-daughter duo practiced black magic that made many children in the neighbourhood ill, said police, who found the bodies in different locations about 500m from their house in Torpa locality.” As of reporting, two men had been arrested for the murders.
Source:
Date: July, 2012
Names of Witches: Robert Lakra, Colestina Lakra
Sex of witch: male, female
Description of witch: Elderly couple, ages 65 and 60
Specific Accusations: sudden deaths of cows, buffaloes, and other animals over the past couple of months
Names of victims:
Sex of victims:
Description of victims:
Location: Puro village, Latehar district
Persecution: Forced to eat excreta and drink urine
Description of Event: “On Monday morning, around 15-20 youths of the village caught hold of the elderly couple and dragged them to the panchayat meeting. No one was ready to hear anything from the couple and after discussion of nearly half-an-hour they forced them to eat human excreta and drink their own urine”, a source said. They were then rescued by police. The couple denied practicing witchcraft, or having anything to do with the deaths of the animals in the area. At the time of reporting, the policed promised to arrest everyone involved, but no arrests had yet been made.
Source: Ojha, Sanjay. (July 17, 2012). Couple branded witches, forced to eat excreta, drink urine. The T imes of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/Couple-branded-witches-forced-to-eat-excreta-drink-urine/articleshow/15012309.cms?referral=PM
Date: March, 2008
Names of Witches:
Sex of witch: female
Description of witch:
Specific Accusations:
Names of victims: wife of Ram Ayodhya
Sex of victims: female
Description of victims:
Location: Dumaria village, Bihar, India
Persecution: Tied to a tree and beaten
Description of Event: Ram Ayodhya had hired the woman to use “magic and prayer” to heal his sick wife. Instead, his wife got worse, and Ayodhya accused the woman of performing black magic. A crowd gathered and tied her to a tree. A journalist filmed the beating, and then called the police. Six people arrested, including Ayodhya, would could face seven years in prison.
Source:
Date: August 21, 2013
Names of Witches: Sukhushree Basumatary, Biren Basumatary
Sex of witch: male, female
Description of witch: husband and wife
Specific Accusations:
Names of victims:
Sex of victims:
Description of victims:
Location: Kokrajhar district, Assam, India
Persecution: Dragged out of their house and hacked to death by 15 men armed with axes and spears.
Description of Event: “Allegations of witchcraft against the couple first surfaced at a local gathering six years ago, and since then accusations against them never stopped.” The attackers' faces were covered, and they were drunk. Eight men arrested so far and charged with murder.
Source: Pandey, Alok. (September 4, 2013). In Assam, a rising trend of murders on allegations of witchcraft. NDTV. http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/in-assam-a-rising-trend-of-murders-on-allegations-of-witchcraft-533508
Date: July, 2013
Name of Witch: Noping Khongsit
Sex of witch: male
Age of witch:
Description of witches:
Specific Accusations: sickening four girls in the village
Names of victims:
Sex of victims: female
Description of victims: four girls
Location: Mawryngkang village, East Khasi Hills district, India
Persecution: Forced to eat human excreta
Description of Event: “The village elders alleged that four girls were suffering from unusual diseases due to some witch elements imposed by Khongsit. They said the girls dreamt of snakes and would regularly shout out the name of Khongsit while sleeping at night.” Based on those allegations, the village council unanimously decided that Khongsit should be forced to eat human excreta. The assistant village chief claimed that the girls' health improved after the incident. According to M. Kharkrang of the local police, “strict action will be taken against those involved”.
Source: (July 23, 2013). Witchcraft practitioner forced to eat excreta. The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Witchcraft-practitioner-forced-to-eat-excreta/articleshow/21271074.cms?referral=PM
Date: February, 2013
Location: Ambapada village, Sundargarh district, Odisha, India
Name, age, sex of witch: Patros Dungdung, male, 60
Name, age, sex of witch: Christina Dungdung, female
Name, age, sex of witch: Phemina, female
Description of witches: Husband, wife, and another woman
Name, age, sex of victim:
Description of victims: father of Prafulla
Name, age, sex of perpetrator: Prafulla Barla, ?, 23
Name, age, sex of perpetrator: Sanjan Soreng, ?, 22
Name, age, sex of perpetrator: Anil Baa, ?, 32
Description of perpetrators: Prafulla Barla was the lead instigator
Specific Accusations: “practising witchcraft” and predicting the death of Prafulla's father
Persecution: They were stripped and paraded naked in public for three hours.
Description of Event: Prafulla summoned Patros to a village meeting on Monday. He accused Patros of practicing witchcraft, and demanded and apology and a commitment to stop practicing witchcraft. Patros said that since he did not practice witchcraft, an apology was out of the question. Anil and Sanjan said that since Patros is refusing to admit his guilt, he “needs a treatment”, and Patros, Christina, and Phemina were assaulted. The three prime perpetrators were arrested, and a platoon of police was deployed to the village to ensure peace.
Source: (February 13, 2013). Witchcraft: 3 arrested. The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/Witchcraft-3-arrested/articleshow/18476277.cms?referral=PM
Date: July, 2012
Location: Vizianagaram
Witch: Lajwant Kaur, female, 30, second wife of Ranjith Singh
Witch: Rana Pattabhi Singh, male, son of Ranjith Singh, son of Ranjith Singh
Victim:
Description of victims: daughter of Ram Singh's brother
Perpetrator: Ram Singh
Description of Perpetrator: Related to Ranjith Singh, Lajwant's husband
Specific Accusations: daughter of Ram Singh's brother was sick with fever for one and a half months, and getting worse
Persecution: hacked to death
Description of Event: Ram suspected Rana Pattabhi of magically causing his brother's daughter's illness, and decided to kill Rana Pattabhi. He asked Lajwant Kaur about Rana Pattabhi. When Lajwant saw him with a sword in his hands, Ram chased her and killer her. He also chased Ranjith Singh's wife, Suraj Kaur, but she escaped. Then Ram surrendered himself to the police.
Source: (July 21, 2012). Woman suspected of witchcraft hacked to death in Vizianagram. The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Woman-suspected-of-witchcraft-hacked-to-death-in-Vizianagram/articleshow/15065222.cms?referral=PM
Date: August 2015
Name of Witch:
Sex of witch:
Age of witch:
Description of witches: 5 women
Names of victims:
Sex of victims:
Description of victims:
Description of perpetrators: a “mob” of village residents
Specific Accusations: accidents and bad luck, including the death of a child
Location: village of Kinjia, Jharkand, India
Persecution: dragged from their homes at midnight and beaten to death with sticks and iron rods
Description of Event: A mob of villagers, accusing the women of causing accidents, bad luck, and the death of a child, dragged them from their homes at midnight and beat them to death with sticks and metal rods. The police arrested 24 people in connection with the murders.
Source: (August 8, 2015). Hexenjagd in Indien: Mob prügelt fünf Frauen zu Tode. Spiegel Online. http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/indischer-mob-ermordet-fuenf-frauen-wegen-hexerei-a-1047326.html
Date: July 2015
Location: Assam, India
Name of Witch:
Sex of witch: female
Age of witch: 65
Description of witches:
Specific Accusations:
Names of victims:
Sex of victims:
Description of victims:
Description of perpetrators: mob of 200 people
Persecution: dragged from her house at night, stripped, beaten, and beheaded
Description of Event: A woman, who was suspected of being a witch, was dragged out of her house by a mob of people, stripped, beaten, and beheaded.
Source: (August 8, 2015). Hexenjagd in Indien: Mob prügelt fünf Frauen zu Tode. Spiegel Online. http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/indischer-mob-ermordet-fuenf-frauen-wegen-hexerei-a-1047326.html
Date: October 2014
Location: Assam, India
Name of Witch: Debjani Bora
Sex of witch:
Age of witch:
Description of witches: successful javelinist
Specific Accusations:
Names of victims:
Sex of victims:
Description of victims:
Description of perpetrators: village residents
Persecution: beaten
Description of Event: Debjani Bora, accused of being a witch, was dragged out of her house and to a temple. She was beaten, but survived the event.
Source: (August 8, 2015). Hexenjagd in Indien: Mob prügelt fünf Frauen zu Tode. Spiegel Online. http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/indischer-mob-ermordet-fuenf-frauen-wegen-hexerei-a-1047326.html
Location: Saudi Arabia
Description: Abdul Hamid Bin Hussain Bin Moustafa Al-Fakki was sentenced to death by a Madina court onMarch 27, 2007, after he was accused of producing a spell that would reconcile his client's divorced parents. His “client” was a man working for the Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (CPVPV), and offered 6,000 Saudi Arabien riyals (about US$1600) for the service. Abdul was arrested on December 8, 2005, and confessed after being questioned and, apparently, beaten. The trial was held in secret, the current state of his case is not known, and it is not known when or if he will be executed.
Source: Amnesty International. (Saturday, May 15, 2010). Sudanese man facing execution in Saudi Arabia over 'sorcery' charges. Afrik-News. http://www.afrik-news.com/article17642.html
Date: March 12, 2009
Location: Albany, New York, USA
Description: Carole A. Smith, 49, and a Wiccan, was a probationary employees with TSA at Albany International Airport. She had been harassed because of her religion. Her former mentor, Mary Bagnoli, complained that Smith followed her home – although she didn't see Smith, and on the only highway that led to Smith's home – and casting a spell on her car heater. That prompted an investigation into Smith regarding workplace violence. Smith was fired from her job, and challenged the dismissal. In court, there was disagreement about the extent to which religion, disciplinary problems, and retaliation for complaints about lax security were involved.
Source: Dedman, B. (March 28, 2011). Whistle-blowing witch grounded by TSA. NBC News. http://www.nbcnews.com/id/41959553/ns/business-us_business/t/whistle-blowing-witch-grounded-tsa/#.V0jm0_n7s_s
Date: ca. February 14, 2015
Location: Geita region of Tanzania
Description: Yohana Bahati, one year old and albino, was taken from his home by five men with machetes. Two days later the police found his body with the arms and legs chopped off. The mother was treated at the hospital for cuts to her face and arms, inflicted when she tried to defend the baby. Albino body parts are used for witchcraft in that part of Africa; a complete set of body parts can be worth $75,000. Family members are often involved, and Yohana's father was questioned but not charged.
Source: Cowell, A. (February 20, 2015). Fears persist that violence against albinos in Tanzania will grow. The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/21/world/africa/fears-persist-that-violence-against-albinos-in-tanzania-will-grow.html?_r=0
Date: December, 2014
Location: Tanzania
Description: Pendo Emmanuelle Nundi, a 4-year-old albino girl, was kidnapped by an armed gang; her body had not yet been recovered.
Source: Source: Dedman, B. (March 28, 2011). Whistle-blowing witch grounded by TSA. NBC News. http://www.nbcnews.com/id/41959553/ns/business-us_business/t/whistle-blowing-witch-grounded-tsa/#.V0jm0_n7s_s
Date: May, 2008
Location: Western Tanzania
Description:Vumila, 17, an albino African, was eating dinner with her family when two men with long knives forced their way into the hut. They sawed off Vumila's legs above the knee, and ran away with them. Vumila died. In Tanzania, albinos are thought to have magical properties, and their body parts are used for making magic.
Source: Gettleman, J. (June 8, 2008). Albinos, long shunned, face threates in Tanzania. The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/world/africa/08albino.html?_r=0
Date: May, 2008
Location: Kenya
Description: An albino woman was hacked to death, and her eyes, tongue, and breasts gouged out and taken for use in making magic.
Source: Gettleman, J. (June 8, 2008). Albinos, long shunned, face threates in Tanzania. The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/world/africa/08albino.html?_r=0
Date: n/a
Location: Eket, Nigeria
Description: Nwanaoko, nine years old, was accused by a local pastor, of the Mount Zion Lighthouse Church, of being a witch. Attempting an exorcism, his father poured acid on him, searing his face and eyes. Nwanaoko died a month later.
Source: (October 20, 2009). Kindesmisshandlung: Die “Hexenkinder” von Nigeria. Spiegel Online. http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/gesellschaft/kindesmisshandlung-die-hexenkinder-von-nigeria-a-656308.html
Date: n/a
Location: Nigeria
Description: Abigail Eyekang, eight years old, was denounced as a witch by the Apostolic Church Nigeria. Her mother, Margaret, paid for repeated excorcisms, without success, and is now broke. Abigail was beaten by neighbors. Margaret took refuge with relatives, Abigail lives on the street.
Source: (October 20, 2009). Kindesmisshandlung: Die “Hexenkinder” von Nigeria. Spiegel Online. http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/gesellschaft/kindesmisshandlung-die-hexenkinder-von-nigeria-a-656308.html
Date: n/a
Location: Presumably Nigeria
Description: Jane, who runs a home for “witch children” that had been ejected from their homes, was denounced by a pastor as a witch when she was a child. Repeated excorcisms were unsuccessful, and her mother tried to saw her skull cap off. Jane still has the scar. Mary, a 15 year old in the home, had caustic soda poured on her face, which remains scarred. Rachel, 12 years old, was chained by a pastor, starved, and beaten with sticks. Israel's cousin tried to bury him alive. Nwaekwa's father drove a nail into her head. Jerry was beaten by his pastor, starved, forced to eat cement, and then set on fire by his father.
Source: (October 20, 2009). Kindesmisshandlung: Die “Hexenkinder” von Nigeria. Spiegel Online. http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/gesellschaft/kindesmisshandlung-die-hexenkinder-von-nigeria-a-656308.html
Date: ca. March 6, 2014
Location: Bihar, India
Description: A married couple (not identified in the article) were beaten to death in a village in the state of Bihar, in India. There are suspects (not identified in the article). One of the suspects blames the wife for the protracted illness of his son, so the witch and her family were attacked. The daughter of the couple is being treated at the hospital for injuries.
Source: (March 6, 2014). Ehepaar wegen Hexerei-Verdachts in Indien zu Tode geprügelt. Augsburger Allgemeine. http://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/newsticker/Ehepaar-wegen-Hexerei-Verdachts-in-Indien-zu-Tode-gepruegelt-id29105662.html
Names of Witches: Sushil Oraon, Jibi Oraon
Sex of witch: female, female
Description of witch:
Names of Victims:
Description of Victims:
Location: Lawagai village, Lohardaga district, state of Jharkhand, India
Date: March 10, 2012
Specific Accusations:
Persecution: Killed – throats slit
Description of Event: “The police said the killings were the result of witchcraft being widely practised in the remote villages of Jharkhand.” “The ministry pointed out that the real motive behind the killings was usurpation of the helpless women's movable and immovable property.”
Source: (May 12, 2012). “Witchcraft claims lives of four women in Jharkhand”. The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Witchcraft-claims-lives-of-four-women-in-Jharkhand/articleshow/13107605.cms?referral=PM
Who: Budhva Mahali, Etwari Mahali
Sex of witch: male, female
Description of witch: husband and wife
Location: Haslata village, Gumla district, state of Jharkhand, India
Date: April 16, 2012
Specific Accusations: “The police said the killings were the result of witchcraft being practised widely in the remote villages of Jharkhand.”
Persecution: Budhva was decapitated, Etwari “suffered a macabre death”
Description of Event: “The ministry pointed out that the real motive behind the killings was usurpation of the helpless women's movable and immovable property.”
Source: (May 12, 2012). “Witchcraft claims lives of four women in Jharkhand”. The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Witchcraft-claims-lives-of-four-women-in-Jharkhand/articleshow/13107605.cms?referral=PM
Names of Witches: Baidhar Singh, Sudarshan Singh
Sex of witch:
Description of witch: From Niligiri area of Balasore district; known to have practiced witchcraft, according to Dayanidhi Gochhayat, the superintendent of police, Khurda
Names of victims: son of Kulu Das
Sex of victims: male
Description of victims: four-year-old boy
Location: Khurda town, Khurda district, state of Odisha, India
Date: ca. Monday, November 25, 2013
Specific Accusations: Killed the victim
Persecution: Arrested; outcome not known
Description of Event: The victim went missing on November 21, 2013. The body was found on a hilltop about 25 km from Khurda town. Baidhar and Sudarshan were arrested on suspicion of murder, and police superintendent Gochhayat suspects the victim was killed for the purpose of human sacrifice.
Source: (Monday, November 25, 2013). Boy killed for witchcraft in Odisha. Z News. http://zeenews.india.com/news/odisha/boy-killed-for-witchcraft-in-odisha_892397.html
Names of Witches: Patrangi Bai, Sukhmanya Bai
Sex of witch: female, female
Description of witch: ages 50 and 52
Names of victims:
Sex of victims: male, male, male
Description of victims: Fathers of Amrit, Ranjeet, and Sandeep
Location: Maluatoli village, Balrumpur district, North Chhattisgarh, India
Date: August 13, 2013
Specific Accusations: Amrit's and Ranjeet's fathers died, Sandeep's father continuously ill
Persecution: strangled, then throats cut
Description of Event: Amrit Tirki, 24, Sandeep, 23, and Ranjeet Toppo, 26, residents of the same village, were arrested on suspicion of murdering the women. “During interrogation, the accused admitted that they had questioned those women about their involvement in witchcraft practices, but they refused to speak. This infuriated the boys who first strangled them and later slit their throat”. The boys believe that it was those women that had killed Amrit's and Ranjeet's fathers, and caused Sandeep's father to become ill. Fate of the killers is unreported.
Source: Drolia, Rashmi. (August 15, 2013). Two branded witches, lynched to death. The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/raipur/Two-branded-witches-lynched-to-death/articleshow/21836280.cms?referral=PM
Names of Witches: Jonathan Baghe
Sex of witch: male
Description of witch: age 65, ex-armyman
Names of victims: Dawood Baghe's daughter
Sex of victims: female
Description of victims: died of a snake bite
Location: Simdega village, Jharkhand, India
Date: October 2, 2011
Specific Accusations:
Persecution: axed to death
Description of Event: Jonathan was “axed to death by villagers” for allegedly practicing witchcraft which led to the death of Baghe's daughter by snakebite. The incident took place after Jonathan had advised the familyto ring a bell after the burial of their daughter. Fate of the killers is unreported.
Source: (October 4, 2011). Ex-armyman killed for alleged witchcraft. NDTV. http://www.ndtv.com/cities/ex-armyman-killed-for-alleged-witchcraft-573386
Names of Witches: Binanda Gaur, Karishma Gaur, Naina Gaur, Manglu Mour
Sex of witch: male, female, female, ?
Description of witch: father, 46, wife, 36, daughter, 15, neighbor, 14
Names of victims: none
Sex of victims:
Description of victims:
Location: Monabarie Tea Estate,
Date: June, 2011
Specific Accusations: none
Persecution: rape, murder, faces burned with acid
Description of Event: False accusation. Surat Modi accused Binanda Gaur and his family of practicing witchcraft that caused sickness among plantation workers, for the purpose of sexually molesting Karishma and her daughter. They were dragged out to the ditch at midnight, raped, and killed. The others had been killed earlier. Six of the seven killers had been arrested.
Source: Karmakar, Rahul. (June 24, 2011). Rape behind witch-hunt murders in assam, 6 held. Hindustan Times. http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/rape-behind-witch-hunt-murders-in-assam-6-held/story-AfL7FNmWeRrLxE2IZxIimL.html
Names of Witches: Mangar Bhuyan
Sex of witch: male
Description of witch:
Names of victims:
Sex of victims:
Description of victims:
Location: Aradhih village, Latehar district, Jharkhand, India
Date: August, 2012
Specific Accusations: “practicing witchcraft”
Persecution: “thrashed”, then buried alive
Description of Event: Five persons dragged Mangar from his house, “thrashed” him, and buried him alive, for practicing witchcraft. At the time of reporting, “raids were being carried out” to arrest the killers.
Source: (August 20, 2012). Man thrashed, buried alive on suspicion of witchcraft. NDTV. http://www.ndtv.com/cities/man-thrashed-buried-alive-on-suspicion-of-witchcraft-497309
Date: November, 2013
Names of Witches: Fulo Topono, Suggi Topono
Sex of witch: female, female
Description of witch: mother, 50, and daughter, 30. Suggi was the youngest of three daughters, and a spinster who lived with her mother. Fulo's husband died several years earlier, and after than the villagers suspected the two women of being witches.
Specific Accusations: “practiced black magic that made many children ill”
Names of victims:
Sex of victims:
Description of victims: village children
Location: Torpa, Khunti district, Jharkhand, India
Persecution: throats cut; Suggi then stabbed several times
Description of Event: “According to villagers, the mother-daughter duo practiced black magic that made many children in the neighbourhood ill, said police, who found the bodies in different locations about 500m from their house in Torpa locality.” As of reporting, two men had been arrested for the murders.
Source:
Date: July, 2012
Names of Witches: Robert Lakra, Colestina Lakra
Sex of witch: male, female
Description of witch: Elderly couple, ages 65 and 60
Specific Accusations: sudden deaths of cows, buffaloes, and other animals over the past couple of months
Names of victims:
Sex of victims:
Description of victims:
Location: Puro village, Latehar district
Persecution: Forced to eat excreta and drink urine
Description of Event: “On Monday morning, around 15-20 youths of the village caught hold of the elderly couple and dragged them to the panchayat meeting. No one was ready to hear anything from the couple and after discussion of nearly half-an-hour they forced them to eat human excreta and drink their own urine”, a source said. They were then rescued by police. The couple denied practicing witchcraft, or having anything to do with the deaths of the animals in the area. At the time of reporting, the policed promised to arrest everyone involved, but no arrests had yet been made.
Source: Ojha, Sanjay. (July 17, 2012). Couple branded witches, forced to eat excreta, drink urine. The T imes of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/Couple-branded-witches-forced-to-eat-excreta-drink-urine/articleshow/15012309.cms?referral=PM
Date: March, 2008
Names of Witches:
Sex of witch: female
Description of witch:
Specific Accusations:
Names of victims: wife of Ram Ayodhya
Sex of victims: female
Description of victims:
Location: Dumaria village, Bihar, India
Persecution: Tied to a tree and beaten
Description of Event: Ram Ayodhya had hired the woman to use “magic and prayer” to heal his sick wife. Instead, his wife got worse, and Ayodhya accused the woman of performing black magic. A crowd gathered and tied her to a tree. A journalist filmed the beating, and then called the police. Six people arrested, including Ayodhya, would could face seven years in prison.
Source:
Date: August 21, 2013
Names of Witches: Sukhushree Basumatary, Biren Basumatary
Sex of witch: male, female
Description of witch: husband and wife
Specific Accusations:
Names of victims:
Sex of victims:
Description of victims:
Location: Kokrajhar district, Assam, India
Persecution: Dragged out of their house and hacked to death by 15 men armed with axes and spears.
Description of Event: “Allegations of witchcraft against the couple first surfaced at a local gathering six years ago, and since then accusations against them never stopped.” The attackers' faces were covered, and they were drunk. Eight men arrested so far and charged with murder.
Source: Pandey, Alok. (September 4, 2013). In Assam, a rising trend of murders on allegations of witchcraft. NDTV. http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/in-assam-a-rising-trend-of-murders-on-allegations-of-witchcraft-533508
Date: July, 2013
Name of Witch: Noping Khongsit
Sex of witch: male
Age of witch:
Description of witches:
Specific Accusations: sickening four girls in the village
Names of victims:
Sex of victims: female
Description of victims: four girls
Location: Mawryngkang village, East Khasi Hills district, India
Persecution: Forced to eat human excreta
Description of Event: “The village elders alleged that four girls were suffering from unusual diseases due to some witch elements imposed by Khongsit. They said the girls dreamt of snakes and would regularly shout out the name of Khongsit while sleeping at night.” Based on those allegations, the village council unanimously decided that Khongsit should be forced to eat human excreta. The assistant village chief claimed that the girls' health improved after the incident. According to M. Kharkrang of the local police, “strict action will be taken against those involved”.
Source: (July 23, 2013). Witchcraft practitioner forced to eat excreta. The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Witchcraft-practitioner-forced-to-eat-excreta/articleshow/21271074.cms?referral=PM
Date: February, 2013
Location: Ambapada village, Sundargarh district, Odisha, India
Name, age, sex of witch: Patros Dungdung, male, 60
Name, age, sex of witch: Christina Dungdung, female
Name, age, sex of witch: Phemina, female
Description of witches: Husband, wife, and another woman
Name, age, sex of victim:
Description of victims: father of Prafulla
Name, age, sex of perpetrator: Prafulla Barla, ?, 23
Name, age, sex of perpetrator: Sanjan Soreng, ?, 22
Name, age, sex of perpetrator: Anil Baa, ?, 32
Description of perpetrators: Prafulla Barla was the lead instigator
Specific Accusations: “practising witchcraft” and predicting the death of Prafulla's father
Persecution: They were stripped and paraded naked in public for three hours.
Description of Event: Prafulla summoned Patros to a village meeting on Monday. He accused Patros of practicing witchcraft, and demanded and apology and a commitment to stop practicing witchcraft. Patros said that since he did not practice witchcraft, an apology was out of the question. Anil and Sanjan said that since Patros is refusing to admit his guilt, he “needs a treatment”, and Patros, Christina, and Phemina were assaulted. The three prime perpetrators were arrested, and a platoon of police was deployed to the village to ensure peace.
Source: (February 13, 2013). Witchcraft: 3 arrested. The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/Witchcraft-3-arrested/articleshow/18476277.cms?referral=PM
Date: July, 2012
Location: Vizianagaram
Witch: Lajwant Kaur, female, 30, second wife of Ranjith Singh
Witch: Rana Pattabhi Singh, male, son of Ranjith Singh, son of Ranjith Singh
Victim:
Description of victims: daughter of Ram Singh's brother
Perpetrator: Ram Singh
Description of Perpetrator: Related to Ranjith Singh, Lajwant's husband
Specific Accusations: daughter of Ram Singh's brother was sick with fever for one and a half months, and getting worse
Persecution: hacked to death
Description of Event: Ram suspected Rana Pattabhi of magically causing his brother's daughter's illness, and decided to kill Rana Pattabhi. He asked Lajwant Kaur about Rana Pattabhi. When Lajwant saw him with a sword in his hands, Ram chased her and killer her. He also chased Ranjith Singh's wife, Suraj Kaur, but she escaped. Then Ram surrendered himself to the police.
Source: (July 21, 2012). Woman suspected of witchcraft hacked to death in Vizianagram. The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Woman-suspected-of-witchcraft-hacked-to-death-in-Vizianagram/articleshow/15065222.cms?referral=PM
Date: August 2015
Name of Witch:
Sex of witch:
Age of witch:
Description of witches: 5 women
Names of victims:
Sex of victims:
Description of victims:
Description of perpetrators: a “mob” of village residents
Specific Accusations: accidents and bad luck, including the death of a child
Location: village of Kinjia, Jharkand, India
Persecution: dragged from their homes at midnight and beaten to death with sticks and iron rods
Description of Event: A mob of villagers, accusing the women of causing accidents, bad luck, and the death of a child, dragged them from their homes at midnight and beat them to death with sticks and metal rods. The police arrested 24 people in connection with the murders.
Source: (August 8, 2015). Hexenjagd in Indien: Mob prügelt fünf Frauen zu Tode. Spiegel Online. http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/indischer-mob-ermordet-fuenf-frauen-wegen-hexerei-a-1047326.html
Date: July 2015
Location: Assam, India
Name of Witch:
Sex of witch: female
Age of witch: 65
Description of witches:
Specific Accusations:
Names of victims:
Sex of victims:
Description of victims:
Description of perpetrators: mob of 200 people
Persecution: dragged from her house at night, stripped, beaten, and beheaded
Description of Event: A woman, who was suspected of being a witch, was dragged out of her house by a mob of people, stripped, beaten, and beheaded.
Source: (August 8, 2015). Hexenjagd in Indien: Mob prügelt fünf Frauen zu Tode. Spiegel Online. http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/indischer-mob-ermordet-fuenf-frauen-wegen-hexerei-a-1047326.html
Date: October 2014
Location: Assam, India
Name of Witch: Debjani Bora
Sex of witch:
Age of witch:
Description of witches: successful javelinist
Specific Accusations:
Names of victims:
Sex of victims:
Description of victims:
Description of perpetrators: village residents
Persecution: beaten
Description of Event: Debjani Bora, accused of being a witch, was dragged out of her house and to a temple. She was beaten, but survived the event.
Source: (August 8, 2015). Hexenjagd in Indien: Mob prügelt fünf Frauen zu Tode. Spiegel Online. http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/indischer-mob-ermordet-fuenf-frauen-wegen-hexerei-a-1047326.html
Names of Witches: Sushil Oraon, Jibi Oraon
Sex of witch: female, female
Description of witch:
Names of Victims:
Description of Victims:
Location: Lawagai village, Lohardaga district, state of Jharkhand, India
Date: March 10, 2012
Specific Accusations:
Persecution: Killed – throats slit
Description of Event: “The police said the killings were the result of witchcraft being widely practised in the remote villages of Jharkhand.” “The ministry pointed out that the real motive behind the killings was usurpation of the helpless women's movable and immovable property.”
Source: (May 12, 2012). “Witchcraft claims lives of four women in Jharkhand”. The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Witchcraft-claims-lives-of-four-women-in-Jharkhand/articleshow/13107605.cms?referral=PM