A 15-year-old boy was murdered in Madhya Pradesh's Multai area after a neighbour suspected his mother of practising witchcraft — and blamed her alleged black magic for his decade-long inability to father a child. The accused stuffed the boy's body in a sack and threw it into a deep ravine to conceal the crime. He was arrested Monday night after confessing to the killing during police interrogation.

The victim, Sudama (15), son of Mohan Ewnate, was a resident of Taikheda village under Multai police station limits. He had been missing since June 20. When his family's search yielded nothing, they filed a complaint with Multai police.

Station In-charge Vikas Patel led a search operation across Hathaikheda and surrounding areas. During the investigation, suspicion fell on Rakesh Uike (30), also a resident of Hathaikheda. He was taken into custody and broke down under questioning — admitting he had killed Sudama the same day the boy went missing.

Uike told police he had been childless for nearly ten years. He was convinced that Sudama's mother was performing witchcraft on his family, and that this was the reason he had no children. Acting on this superstition, he targeted the boy.

The manner of the killing was brutal. According to police, Uike first struck Sudama on the head with an iron rod, causing serious injuries, then strangled him to death. He then stuffed the body into a sack and dumped it in a deep ravine in the Hathaikheda area, hoping it would never be found.

On Uike's directions, the police team recovered the sack-wrapped body from the ravine late Monday night around 11 pm. The body has been sent for post-mortem. The accused has been formally arrested and booked for murder along with other relevant charges. Investigation is ongoing.

Witch-hunting and superstition-linked violence continue to claim lives across central India, particularly in rural and tribal pockets of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Families accused of practising black magic — often on little more than personal grudges or community rumour — frequently face violence, social ostracism, or worse. Cases involving minors being targeted as proxies are especially disturbing and have drawn demands from rights groups for stricter enforcement of anti-superstition laws.

Sudama's family was in shock, with relatives inconsolable through the night. They have demanded strict action against the accused.

A shocking case of witchcraft suspicion murder has surfaced from Chhattisgarh’s Jashpur district, highlighting the deadly consequences of superstition and family conflict. Police have arrested four members of a family accused of brutally killing a woman after suspecting her of practicing black magic and blaming her for infertility and illness within the household.

The incident took place in Gatti Mahuwa village under the Sanna police station area. According to police officials, the victim, identified as Goi Dei Bai, was found dead in suspicious circumstances on March 6, prompting an immediate investigation.

Body Found Under Suspicious Circumstances

The case came to light after the victim’s brother reported her death to local authorities. When police reached the house, they discovered blood stains near the body and serious injuries to the victim.

A post-mortem examination confirmed that the woman died due to severe internal injuries caused during the assault. The findings indicated that the death was not natural but a clear case of homicide.

As investigators questioned family members, inconsistencies in their statements raised suspicion, leading to a deeper interrogation that eventually revealed the horrifying truth behind the Jashpur murder case.

Family Members Confess to Crime

Police say the victim’s husband, his second wife, and two relatives were involved in the crime. According to the confession recorded during questioning, tensions had been building within the family for a long time.

The husband had remarried, and frequent arguments reportedly occurred between the two women. Meanwhile, other family members believed that the victim was practicing black magic and blamed her for several misfortunes in the household.

These included:

• The inability of another couple in the family to have children

• A serious illness affecting an elderly family member

• Ongoing disputes between relatives

Fuelled by these beliefs, the accused allegedly planned to confront the woman.

Alcohol, Assault, and Murder

On March 5, the victim’s husband reportedly lured her to a hut on the pretext of resolving a dispute. Inside, other accused family members were already present.

Police say the group made the woman consume alcohol before attacking her. During the assault, she was thrown to the ground and restrained.

Investigators say the victim suffered severe injuries during the attack, which ultimately led to her death. After the crime, the accused covered the body with a blanket and attempted to hide the incident.

However, forensic evidence and sustained questioning exposed the crime.

Police later recovered a wooden stick believed to have been used in the assault.

Police Action and Arrests

All four accused have been arrested and sent to judicial custody. According to Additional Superintendent of Police Rakesh Patanwar, the crime appears to have been motivated by superstition and family disputes.

“The accused believed the victim was responsible for their problems through black magic. After interrogation and evidence collection, all suspects have been charged with murder,” the officer said.

The investigation is ongoing, and police are gathering further evidence related to the black magic killing.

Rising Crimes Linked to Superstition

The witchcraft suspicion murder in Jashpur is not an isolated case. Authorities say similar incidents have been reported in rural areas where superstition still influences social behavior.

Just months earlier, another killing occurred in the district after a man allegedly murdered his aunt, suspecting her of casting spells that caused illness in his children.

Experts say awareness campaigns and stricter enforcement of anti-superstition laws are necessary to prevent such tragedies.

Conclusion

The brutal killing in Jashpur once again exposes the dangerous impact of superstition and unresolved family disputes in rural communities. While police have arrested the accused, the case underscores the urgent need for education, awareness, and stronger social intervention to prevent crimes driven by fear and misinformation.