Accused in 2 cases of actrocity against women, kin not yet arrested

B N Singh Pappan

Saharsa : Sushila Devi, a resident of village Durgapur under Basnahi police station in Saharsa district, was allegedly brutally assaulted by Bechan Mandal and his son Gaurishankar Mandal on March 26, 2017, charging her with practicing witchcraft which led to illness of Bechan’s wife. When Sushila’s son Mukesh Pandit came to the rescue of his mother, Bechan and Gaurishankar also thrashed him.

Both Sushila and Mukesh were seriously injured and were taken to a private clinic at Jamhara under Patarghat block where the doctor referred them to Saharsa Sadar Hospital and they were admitted there on March 26 night. The doctors at Sadar hospital referred them to Darbhanga medical college hospital (DMCH) in view of their serious condition but they refused to go there for want of money. Sources said that Bechan’s wife was ill for the last five days and he had called a Tantrik to treat her. The Tantrik told them that Sushila had applied some magic on her. Sadar Police Station, Saharsa, has taken the statement of Sushila and started investigation into the incident.

In another incident, Bhushan Yadav, his sons Vikas and Jai Prakash allegedly assaulted Ranju Devi, her husband and her son at Simraha colony, Saharsa, on March 20, 2017, after she  she did not allow her son to lift cowdung from the premises of her neighbour Bhushan Yadav. Ranju alleged that Bhushan Yadav had been using her son for different works for the past few months without paying him for the work.

Ranju was admitted to Saharsa Sadar hospital and an FIR was lodged with Sadar police station, Saharsa. After her return from hospital, she was again beaten up by them on March 26 at a panchayat and she was again admitted to Sadar hospital. Sadar police station took her statement at hospital but the accused are yet to be arrested.