In a shocking incident rooted in superstition, a 40-year-old man has been arrested for the brutal murder of his own father in Garhwa district of Jharkhand. The police reported that the accused killed his elderly father on the suspicion that he was practicing witchcraft.
The Gruesome Night Attack
The tragic event occurred in Gadia village, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Bargar police station in the Ranka sub-division. According to Ranka DSP Rohit Ranjan Singh, the accused, identified as Nagendra Ram (40), attacked his father, Chandrika Ram (62), with an axe while the elderly man was asleep at night. The police official stated that the attack was brutal and premeditated.
"The accused has confessed to his crime during questioning," DSP Singh confirmed, highlighting the grim details of the patricide driven by a deep-seated belief in witchcraft.
A Disturbing Pattern of Superstition-Driven Violence
Alarmingly, this is not an isolated case in the region. This murder marks the second such incident reported within days in Garhwa district. Just on Saturday, another man, Rukhi Rajwar (27), was shot dead under similar circumstances in the Bhawnathpur police station limits. He too was targeted on suspicion of practicing witchcraft.
A police official, speaking on the persistence of such beliefs, noted that superstition is still prevailing mostly in rural areas of the district. These back-to-back cases underscore a severe social malady where archaic beliefs are leading to fatal violence, challenging law enforcement and community elders alike.
Community and Legal Repercussions
The arrest of Nagendra Ram has sent shockwaves through the close-knit community of Gadia village. The incident raises urgent questions about the spread of superstition and the lack of awareness in remote areas. Local authorities are now faced with the dual challenge of delivering justice and initiating measures to combat these dangerous beliefs.
The police investigation is ongoing, but the confession has solidified the case. The sequence of events points to a tragic failure of rational thought, where suspicion overrode familial bonds with deadly consequences. This case is a stark reminder of the work needed to educate and eradicate deep-rooted superstitions that threaten lives and social harmony in India's hinterlands.
