Dhegani accused out of the blue

CHITWAN, Feb 29: Self-acclaimed “traditional healer” Jogeshwor who had accused Dhegani Devi to be a witch has confessed that he knows nothing about the healing tradition.



In his statement to the police, Jogeshwor said he had accused Dhegani of practicing witchcraft out of the blue.[break]



According to Jageshwor, he had just set up a place for worshipping goddess Durga and the villages began to throng there for treatment.



“I do not know anything about healing. I had just set up the place for worshipping the goddess at my house and people thought I was a healer,” he said. Interestingly, Jageshwor worked as a laborer and had been to India for the treatment of a serious ailment. It was after his return from India that he assumed the role of a healer.



Jageshwor had told Bikram Mahato, one of the main accused in Dhegani´s murder, that a widow witch in the Mahoto family was troubling him. The indication was clearly towards Dhageni as she was the widow in their family.



DSP Rabiraj Paudel on Tuesday said l the members in the Mahato family and Jogeshwor were found to be guilty of Dhegani´s murder.



“First the son-in-law of the victim Birkram hit her with stone. Then his wife Manju attacked her from behind and later when Dhageni lay helpless on the ground they poured kerosene over her body and burnt her,” Paudel said.



He added that the police have taken statements from all the nine accused. “Investigation is still under way, while two of the accused are still absconding.”

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