Research On Criminalization Of Witch-Hunting In Nepalese Villages
1. Radha Case – Kailali District (2018)
Victim: Radha, a young woman living in Devakaliya, Kailali
Incident: Radha was accused of being a witch by a local shaman, Bhole Baba, after misfortunes struck the village. She was dragged from her house and publicly tortured, including physical beatings and humiliation.
Perpetrators: Bhole Baba (main), with accomplices Kismati Chaudhary and Smarika Chaudhary.
Legal Action: Kailali District Court filed a case under the Witchcraft Act and relevant sections of the Criminal Code.
Outcome:
Bhole Baba: 5 years imprisonment + fine of NPR 100,000
Kismati Chaudhary: 1 year 6 months imprisonment + fine of NPR 50,000
Smarika Chaudhary: 1 year 6 months imprisonment + fine of NPR 25,000
Significance: This case shows the court actively enforcing the Witchcraft Act with substantial sentences, particularly for organized persecution.
2. Murder of a Child – Hetauda (2012–2015)
Victim: Nitesh Kumar Yadav, a 3-year-old boy
Incident: The boy was killed in a ritualistic killing under the pretext of witchcraft, orchestrated by a woman (Mahadevi Yadav) and an alleged shaman (Chhabilal Raya).
Legal Action: Police investigated and the Hetauda court prosecuted the accused for murder and witchcraft-related violence.
Outcome:
Mahadevi Yadav: Life imprisonment
Chhabilal Raya: Convicted in absentia
Significance: Extreme case of witch-hunting leading to death; court imposed the maximum sentence, setting a strong precedent for life-threatening incidents.
3. Okhaldhunga Case – Molung Rural Municipality (2019 Incident, 2023 Verdict)
Victim: 64-year-old woman in Okhaldhunga
Incident: Accused of being a witch, the victim was physically attacked and set on fire by two perpetrators.
Perpetrators: Deepak Vishwakarma (50) and Muna Vishwakarma (27), assisted by a minor.
Legal Action: Filed under the Witchcraft Act, with local authorities supporting victim’s complaint.
Outcome:
Both sentenced to 5 years imprisonment
Fines: Deepak NPR 60,000; Muna NPR 50,000
Compensation to victim: NPR 60,000 (split among defendants and local government)
Significance: Illustrates direct application of the Witchcraft Act, including compensation provisions.
4. Widow Beaten in Chitwan (2012)
Victim: Dhegani Mahato, 40-year-old widow
Incident: She was accused of witchcraft after villagers blamed her for illness in a family. She was publicly beaten, stripped, and humiliated.
Perpetrators: Eight villagers involved in mob action.
Legal Action: Police filed charges under both physical assault and witchcraft accusation provisions.
Outcome: Some perpetrators were sentenced to life imprisonment; others received lesser jail terms (5–7 years) depending on involvement.
Significance: Demonstrates mob violence dynamics and how courts differentiate between main and minor perpetrators.
5. Rajkumari Rana Case – Kailali (2013)
Victim: Rajkumari Rana, 60-year-old woman
Incident: Accused of witchcraft, she was publicly humiliated: her head was shaved, she was forced to eat human excreta, and beaten severely.
Perpetrators: Local villagers and a shaman acting as instigator.
Legal Action: Witchcraft Act used to prosecute, along with assault and public humiliation charges.
Outcome: Perpetrators sentenced to imprisonment of 3–5 years; fines imposed; victim received local government support.
Significance: Highlights older women as frequent targets, social stigma, and the ritualistic nature of such abuse.
6. Multiple Women Attacked in Sunsari District (2020–2021)
Victims: Several women in Inaruwa, Sunsari District, mostly older or widowed
Incident: Accused by local shamans, they were beaten, evicted from homes, and publicly humiliated.
Perpetrators: Village residents, often led by a shaman or family elders.
Legal Action: Some cases filed under the Witchcraft Act; others settled informally by village councils.
Outcome: Court cases resulted in sentences from 6 months to 3 years; some fines and minor compensations.
Significance: Shows persistent prevalence of witchcraft accusations despite legal frameworks and how community settlements sometimes bypass formal justice.
Summary of Trends from These Cases:
Victims: Predominantly women, often widows, elderly, or socially marginalized.
Perpetrators: Shamans, neighbors, or community members acting collectively.
Forms of Abuse: Beatings, humiliation, public shaming, forced ingestion of filth, and in extreme cases, murder.
Legal Framework: Witchcraft Act (2015) + Criminal Code (Section 168) allows imprisonment, fines, and compensation.
Judicial Outcomes: Range from 6 months to life imprisonment; serious cases get strong sentences, but minor or socially mediated cases result in leniency.
Ongoing Issues: Social stigma, low awareness, and underreporting; many incidents handled by informal community justice rather than courts.
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