'Tortured, Burned Alive': Why Witch-Hunt Continues in Jharkhand Even Today

In our new series, The Witches of Jharkhand, we are bringing you stories from the interiors of Jharkhand.

In our new three-part series, The Witches of Jharkhand, we are travelling to the interiors of Jharkhand – despite fearing hostility from the locals.

Photo by Deeksha Malhotra

Banished by their own community.

Tortured.

Humiliated.

Harassed.

Paraded naked.

Murdered.

The year may be 2022, but women are still being accused of 'witchcraft' in the state of Jharkhand. On the face of it, it would appear that such allegations are still thrown about because people are superstitious. But a lot lies underneath the surface.

Through our travels and research, it's clear that allegations of 'witchcraft' are being used as an anti-women weapon to curb their independence, especially in cases of land-grabbing and property disputes, and to deprive them of what is rightly theirs.

In our new three-part series, The Witches of Jharkhand, we are travelling to the interiors of Jharkhand – despite fearing hostility from the locals – to bring you stories of those who didn't make it and to give voice to those who wouldn't be heard otherwise. It will cost us Rs 13.9 lakh, apart from the time and effort, to bring you these stories.

Click here to pay to support us. Your support enables us to bring you the stories that matter.

Cameraperson: Athar Rather

Video Editor: Harpal Rawat