Police have arrested the ward secretary of Tillotama Municipality-5 in Rupandehi district for assaulting a woman over witchcraft allegation.

Area Police Office, Butwal DSP Dil Bahadur Malla informed that ward secretary Tikaram Acharya, his spouse Kamala Acharya and daughter Pratigya Acharya Khanal have been arrested for assaulting Dambar Kumari Neupane of Tillotama-4 on the charge of practicing witchcraft.

According to police, Acharya on Wednesday had called Neupane to look after his daughter Pratigya, who was ill since the past few days. Soon after Neupane entered the room where Pratigya was staying, the latter started assaulting Neupane accusing her of “making her (Pratigya) ill”. The ward secretary allegedly remained a mute-spectator while the mother-daughter duo assaulted Neupane, informed police.

Following the incident, in an attempt to seek justice, Neupane along with her neighbours filed a verbal complaint at ward police office where the police tried to settle the issue between the two parties.

However, the victim refused to settle the matter and said that she will fight for justice and filed a case against her assaulters under the Witchcraft Act.

DSP Malla informed that the police have extended the remand of arrestees and further investigation into the matter is underway.