Indian ‘Witche’ Beating Caught On Camera

Five Indian female villagers were striped naked and paraded, beaten and even forced to eat human excrement by village neighbours after being labelled witches.

Local police authorities in this Jharkhand state rural district said the victims of the ghastly attacks were Muslim widows who had been branded witches by a village cleric.

The attacks happened on Sunday in a small Deoghar district village.

In small remote Indian villagers, the abuse of women who are labeled witches is common, although this time the beating was filmed with a video camera and released on the web. This rare footage of the assault has caused widespread outrage in India.

Police officers went to investigated matters at Pattharghatia village following a tip from local villagers.

After a case was lodged by authorities, 11 villagers, including six women, are facing prosecution. As of yet, four villagers have been apprehended in connection with the attack.

Armed officers have now been deployed in the village.

Deputy inspector general of police Murari Lal Meena said that on Sunday morning, the five victims had been forced onto to a local playground where hundreds of people had gathered to observe the horrible assault. 

Inspector Meena said no one in the crowd attempted to rescue the naked and beaten women.

All five victims are now and under the protection of local police.

Authorities have said that certain female villagers in Pattharghatia are believed to be possessed by a higher spirit, permitting to identify witches.

In many remote Indian villagers, this excuse is used in order to murder and then take the property of the deceased woman, who is often a powerless widow. Many of these crimes are perpetrated by other family members.