Four persons were killed over witchcraft allegation in Makwanpur district in the past seven years.

According to District Police Office, 19 people, 14 of them women, were assaulted and shamed in public for “practicing witchcraft” in the same period.

“Sukumaya Tamang of Dhiyal VDC, Sano Kancchi Tamang of Dandakharka-5, Hasta Bahadur Magar of Hetauday VDC-8 were killed over witchcraft allegation,” said Superintendent of Police (SP) Meera Chaudhary. 

 “The latest incident of witchcraft related murder was that of an 86-year-old man who was burnt alive. This shows that the people still believed superstitious ideas,” said SP Chaudhary.

District Chairman of Women for Human Rights Aarati Pathak said the so-called astrologers and shamans are the reasons why people are being murdered and persecuted over witchcraft claims.

“They are the ones who encourage such crimes,” said Pathak.

 People from Padpokhari, Hatiya, Makwanpurgadhi, Dandakharka, Dhiyal, Basamadhi and Tistung including other VDCs have been affected over witchcraft allegation in the district.