5 Sentenced to Death for Murder of Jharkhand Family Over Black Magic Suspicion

GG News Bureau

Chaibasa, 16th Feb. A local court on Wednesday sentenced five people to death in a triple murder case that occurred over a year ago due to suspicions that they were involved in witchcraft.

On November 8, 2021, the five were convicted and sentenced to death by the principal district and session Judge Vishwanath Shukla for slitting the throats of Salim Dhanga, his wife Belangi, and their daughter Rahil at Podongair village.

The village is within the jurisdiction of the Bandgaon police station in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district.

The five – Markas Dahanga, Iliyas Dahanga, Kemba Dahanga, Daud Dahanga, and Iliyas Dahanga alias Banka Banku – were found guilty of murdering the three victims and burying their bodies in the Karo River’s banks to conceal evidence.

Few days before the incident Markas Dahanga had lost his daughter to an illness. His friends, however, convinced him that the girl had died due to the black magic practiced by his neighbour Salim Dhanga and his family. Markas then along with his accomplices killed the three in their house and buried the bodies, district superintendent of police Ashutosh Shekhar said.

The court also imposed a 1 lakh fine on the convicted individuals.