Requiem
Remembering the victims of witch-hunts in India
Every year in India, people are branded witches and beaten, driven out or killed. Most are women, many of them older or widowed. Behind the accusation there is often a land dispute, an illness nobody could explain, or simple fear.
Witch-hunting is not a supernatural problem. It is violence, made possible by superstition. This memorial records victims from published news reports so that they are not forgotten, and so that we keep speaking against it.
Recorded cases
39 cases · Details are taken from the published sources linked on each page.
Bihar · 2025
Unnamed woman
Jamui
Branded a witch and killed with an axe by her neighbors.
Chhattisgarh · 2025
Minakshi Markam
Dhakuni, Kanker · Age 17
Hacked to death after being branded a 'Tohni' (witch)
Chhattisgarh · 2025
Sanmet Kashyap
Sanbahli, Mahasamund · Age 75
Killed by neighbors over witchcraft suspicion
Chhattisgarh · 2025
Hidma Podiyami
Katekalyan, Dantewada
Murdered on suspicion of practicing witchcraft
Jharkhand · 2025
Unnamed woman
Gumla · Age 50
Murdered over witchcraft allegations; body found buried in sand on riverbank
Odisha · 2025
Unnamed elderly couple
Mayurbhanj
Brutally murdered over allegations of sorcery
Odisha · 2025
Unnamed woman
Kandhamal
Beaten to death by relatives on suspicion of practicing witchcraft.
Assam · 2024
Unnamed woman
Victim of witch-hunting; part of 32 cases recorded between 2022 and 2024
Chhattisgarh · 2024
Unnamed woman
Sukma
Beaten to death on suspicion of practising witchcraft
Rajasthan · 2024
Nandubai Meena
Gudagokulpura, Bundi · Age 50
Tied to a tree and tortured with a hot iron rod for two days after being labeled a witch; rescued and hospitalized
West Bengal · 2024
Lodki Kisku and Dolly Soren
Birbhum
Beaten to death on suspicion of practicing witchcraft
Assam · 2023
Unnamed woman
Sonitpur · Age 30
Attacked with sharp weapons and burnt to death for allegedly practising witchcraft
Jharkhand · 2023
Unnamed woman
Palamu · Age 48
Beaten to death by family members on suspicion of practising witchcraft
Odisha · 2023
Unnamed woman
Beaten to death; 33 arrested
Rajasthan · 2023
Unnamed woman
Rajasthan village
Stripped, tortured overnight, and branded a witch by three individuals; tied to a cot and beaten mercilessly.
Tripura · 2023
Kaushalya Ghatwal
Khowai
Killed by husband and relatives for allegedly being a witch
West Bengal · 2023
Chaiti Oraon
Alipurduar · Age 60
Branded a witch by kin and killed
Jharkhand · 2022
Unknown woman
Gumla · Age 62
Branded a witch and burned alive by neighbors
Rajasthan · 2022
Seeta
Bhilwara · Age 43
Branded a witch by her nephew after consulting a bhopa; dragged by hair, tortured, and expelled from her home
Jharkhand · 2021
Suru Kui
West Singhbhum · Age 43
Killed by her nephew on suspicion of practising witchcraft
Rajasthan · 2021
Unnamed woman
Bai Baisar, Nagaur · Age 68
Beaten and stoned by villagers after being accused of witchcraft; police registered a case under the Rajasthan Prevention of Witch Hunting Act
West Bengal · 2021
Unnamed woman
Jalpaiguri · Age 55
Beaten to death by neighbors after being accused of witchcraft
Assam · 2020
Nirmala Boro
Baksa · Age 50
Beheaded on suspicion of witchcraft
Bihar · 2020
Unnamed elderly woman
Champaran
Accused of witchcraft, disrobed, and paraded naked through the streets; case paused by Supreme Court
West Bengal · 2020
Unnamed woman
Purulia · Age 48
Strangled by relatives who accused her of witchcraft
Chhattisgarh · 2019
Unnamed woman
Raigarh · Age 65
Bludgeoned to death by villagers for allegedly causing illness through black magic
Jharkhand · 2019
Unnamed woman
· Age 65
Killed after being branded a witch
Bihar · 2018
Rita Devi
Gaya · Age 45
Burnt alive by a mob on suspicion of witchcraft
Odisha · 2018
Mangri Munda and her four children
Killed on suspicion of witchcraft
Rajasthan · 2018
Unnamed woman
Kaleda, Jaipur · Age 35
Beaten by family members after being branded a witch; alleged property dispute; FIR registered following court order
Gujarat · 2017
Unnamed woman
Dahod · Age 40
Tortured with hot rods and killed after being accused of witchcraft
Rajasthan · 2017
Kanya Devi
Ajmer · Age 40
Tortured to death by relatives after being branded a witch; local panchayat attempted to hush up the matter
Rajasthan · 2017
Champa Devi
Udaipur · Age 70
Killed by a family who suspected her of witchcraft resulting in the severe illness of their son. She was dragged, tied to a pole, and beaten mercilessly.
West Bengal · 2017
Meena Soren
Birbhum · Age 35
Killed during a community ritual intended to expose witches
Assam · 2016
Two unnamed women
Pushed into a well and buried alive after being branded as witches
Odisha · 2016
Padmini Munda
Mayurbhanj · Age 60
Beaten to death by villagers after being branded a witch
Jharkhand · 2015
Five unnamed tribal women
Ranchi
Lynched on suspicion of practising witchcraft
West Bengal · 2012
Unnamed mother and daughter
West Midnapore
Beaten to death after being branded witches by villagers
West Bengal · 2002
Five unnamed women
Malbazar
Killed after being labelled as witches