Mahato, 45, was stoned to death and burned on the front yard of her house by her neighbors on the charge of practicing witchcraft, on February 17 last year. According to record keeper at the court, Din Bandhu Baral, of the 11 accused in the murder, three were acquitted.[break]
The court slapped life term with attachment of property on Dhegani´s neighbor Bikram Mahato, his wife Bikramiya, his daughters -- Manju, Laxmi, Krishnaa and his son-in-law whose name is also Bikram Mahato. And Jugeshwar Mahato, the faith healer who accused Dhegani of being witch, was given life term only.
The court acquitted three villagers -- Saraswati, Laxmi and Pashupatiya Mahato.
Dhegani was thrashed to death in the wee hours at her home in Baghauda village, which is 38 kilometers to the south of the Chitwan district headquarters. Bikram´s family had burnt Dhegani´s body at her front yard in a pile of straw.
Jugeshwar, the faith healer, had said that Bikram´s son-in-law had fallen sick due to the witchcraft practiced on him by Dhegani. Following this, Bikram´s family had gone rampaging against Dhegani. Before the incident, Jugeshwor had accused two other women in the village as witches.
Dhegani had been living with her elderly father-in-law and mother-in-law after her husband had died of cancer 10 years before the incident. After Dhegani´s death, the responsibility of raising her two children -- a son and daughter -- has fallen on the shoulder of the elderly grandparents. The government had provided Dhegani´s family members one million rupees as compensation.
Related story
Senior advocate seeks transparency in property confiscation of...
