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Journalism of Courage
Even as the world outside observed International Womens Day on Monday,at Sikriatanr in Simdega district of Jharkhand,a mob of 150 tribals branded a woman of their tribe as witch and beat her to death. According to 58-year-old Birsa Chik,his wife Geeta Devi (55) was accused of being a witch and killed. Her body was later sent to the Sadar hospital for post-mortem. Trouble began when two villagers,Muska Chick (57) and his nephew Sukra (45),were told by an exorcist that Muskas 22-year-son Jairam,who probably suffered from typhoid,was a victim of a spell cast by Geeta. A panchayat was held and soon 150 Chik Baraiks charged at Geeta with sticks and beat her up till she died,according to the FIR filed by Birsa. None of the 10 persons,who were named in the FIR,were arrested till Tuesday.
