A 22-year-old woman was allegedly branded as witch and jabbed with hot iron rod allegedly by her in-laws in Sarwada village in Ajmer district of Rajasthan.
The woman suffered burn marks on her face and other body parts. According to the FIR lodged by the victim’s parents in Jahazpur area of Bhilwara district, her native place, the woman was married in 2021. Her in-laws started torturing her soon after the marriage.
The woman gave birth to a boy a year after the marriage but the harassment continued. In-laws even refused to send the woman to her parents place.
On June 24, I got information that my daughter has been brutally assaulted by her in-laws. She was branded with hot iron rods, her hairs were chopped,” said the girl’s father.
Two days later, on June 26, the girl’s father reached Jahazpur alongwith local police and some relatives and brought her back to Ajmer. The girl was hospitalised and following a treatment for five days, her condition improved. The girl is still under trauma due to the torture by her in-laws.
Police said they will record the girl’s statement after she recovers.
There have been several instances Rajasthan in the past also where women had to undergo torture and harassment by the society after being witch.
A 65-year-old woman was branded as witch and thrown into a well after being assaulted by locals in Ulela village in Jahazpur two years ago.
Witch-branding continues despite ban in Rajasthan
The Rajasthan Prevention of Witch Hunting Act, 2015, has strong provisions of punishments for the crime.
According to the Act, the accused can be jailed for three years and extendable up to seven years with a fine not less than Rs 50,000.