Sat Jan 18 07:18:37 UTC 2025: ## 77-Year-Old Woman Brutally Assaulted, Accused of Black Magic in Maharashtra
**Amravati, Maharashtra, January 18, 2025** – A 77-year-old woman was subjected to a brutal assault in Retyakheda village, Amravati district, Maharashtra, allegedly at the hands of her neighbors who accused her of practicing black magic. The incident, which occurred on December 30th, 2024, only came to light earlier this month when the victim’s son and daughter-in-law filed a police complaint.
According to the complaint, the woman was alone at home when she was seized by her neighbors. They beat her with a wooden stick, slapped and thrashed her, and branded her hands and legs with hot iron rods. The alleged assault further involved forcing her to drink urine and consume dog excreta, after which she was paraded through the village wearing a garland of slippers.
The victim’s family, who were away at the time of the incident, learned of the assault on January 5th and immediately filed a police report. Amravati Superintendent of Police Vishal Anand confirmed the seriousness of the allegations and stated that an investigation is underway to verify the details. A police official has been dispatched to the remote village to conduct a thorough investigation. The SP also indicated that an inquiry will be conducted to determine whether the local police station attempted to cover up the incident. Further action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation. The incident highlights the ongoing issue of violence and superstition in some parts of India.
First Piper 