Branding her a witch, the residents of Malda’s Bodobari village killed a 66-year-old widow, Raimat Tudu, on Friday night. Raimat was alone in her house on Friday as her son, Laxmiram, and her daughter, Alo, had gone to a relative’s house in a nearby village to celebrate Badna festival. Around midnight, 50 villagers — armed with sharp weapons — attacked her house. They dragged her into the courtyard and killed her. Her arms, legs and head were severed. Her body remained there for a day till the police was informed on Saturday evening. On Sunday, the body was sent for post-mortem.“The body had multiple wounds,” said additional police superintendent of Malda, Sujit Sarkar. The police suspect the involvement of the victim’s step-sons who may have planned the murder to grab her property.For years, Raimat was branded a witch, with locals alleging that people fell ill because of her. A couple of years ago, she was ostracised and driven out of the village. Later, her brother, Bithu Tudu, escorted her back with the help of the local police.Police suspect that her step-sons instigated the villagers, spreading rumours that she was a witch. Raimat had inherited three bighas of agricultural land, in which her two step-sons, Som and Rafi, wanted a share. “The victim’s family members have given us statements which indicate that her step-sons had a hand in the incident,” said an officer of Gajol police station.
