Jharkhand woman axed to death over witchcraft suspicion in Gumla, accused surrenders
Synopsis
A 40-year-old tribal woman was allegedly hacked to death with an axe in Gumla, Jharkhand, by a neighbour who accused her of witchcraft — the second time he had attacked her, having seriously injured her in a similar assault in 2025. The accused, reportedly an epilepsy sufferer who blamed the victim for his illness, walked into the police station and surrendered. Jharkhand consistently records among the highest witch-hunting deaths in India.
Key Takeaways
Taramuni Devi , 40, was allegedly axed to death in Khatgaon village, Gumla district, Jharkhand , on 30 July .
Accused Shamil Dungdung , a fellow villager, allegedly attacked her accusing her of practising witchcraft; he surrendered at Palkot police station shortly after.
The accused had allegedly carried out a similar attack on the same victim in 2025 , seriously injuring her before she survived.
Preliminary investigation indicates Dungdung had reportedly suffered from epilepsy for nearly three years and allegedly believed the victim caused his illness through witchcraft.
An FIR has been registered at Palkot police station on a complaint by the victim's husband, Anmol Kerketta ; the accused is in detention and investigation is ongoing.
Jharkhand records some of the highest incidences of witch-hunting violence in India, with tribal women disproportionately targeted.
A 40-year-old woman was allegedly hacked to death with an axe on suspicion of practising witchcraft in Khatgaon village under Palkot police station limits in Gumla district, Jharkhand, on Thursday, 30 July, according to police officials. The accused, identified as Shamil Dungdung, a resident of the same village, surrendered at the Palkot police station shortly after the attack.
How the Attack Unfolded
The victim, Taramuni Devi, was washing utensils near a village school when Dungdung allegedly struck her with an axe, accusing her of casting a spell on him. She sustained severe injuries to her head and other parts of the body and died at the scene. After carrying out the assault, the accused walked into the Palkot police station and surrendered before officers.
Police rushed to Khatgaon, took custody of the body, and dispatched it for a postmortem examination. The accused has since been detained and an investigation is underway.
A History of Threats and a Prior Attack
According to the victim's nephew, Ranjit Kerketta, this was not the first time Dungdung had targeted Taramuni Devi. He allegedly carried out a similar assault in 2025, seriously injuring her, though she survived that attack. Family members alleged that despite police intervention at the time, Dungdung continued to threaten her, repeatedly branding her a witch, before carrying out Thursday's fatal assault.
An FIR has been registered at the Palkot police station based on a complaint filed by the victim's husband, Anmol Kerketta.
Accused Reportedly Suffered from Epilepsy
Preliminary investigation has revealed that Dungdung had reportedly been suffering from epilepsy for nearly three years. He allegedly believed that Taramuni Devi had used witchcraft to cause his illness — a belief that, according to investigators, drove the repeated targeting of the victim. Police are examining all aspects of the case and questioning the accused.
Witch-Hunting Violence in Jharkhand
Witch-hunting remains a persistent and brutal problem in Jharkhand, which records some of the highest incidences of such violence in the country, disproportionately targeting tribal women. Activists and legal experts have long called for stricter enforcement of anti-witch-hunting laws and community-level awareness programmes to counter the deeply entrenched superstition. This case underscores the continued vulnerability of women in remote tribal communities, where accusations of witchcraft can prove fatal even after prior police intervention fails to deter the perpetrator.
Police have said the investigation is ongoing and all angles are being examined.
Point of View
But the systemic failure it exposes: the accused had allegedly attacked the same woman in 2025, and prior police action evidently did not neutralise the threat. Jharkhand has anti-witch-hunting legislation, yet enforcement at the village level remains inconsistent, and women in remote tribal areas continue to bear the cost of that gap. The accused's epilepsy and his belief that the victim caused it point to a broader public health and superstition nexus that law enforcement alone cannot resolve. Until community-level interventions match legislative intent, cases like Taramuni Devi's will keep repeating.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Gumla witch-hunting murder case in Jharkhand?
A 40-year-old woman, Taramuni Devi, was allegedly hacked to death with an axe in Khatgaon village, Gumla district, Jharkhand, on 30 July by a fellow villager, Shamil Dungdung, who accused her of practising witchcraft. The accused surrendered at Palkot police station shortly after the attack and has been detained.
Who is the accused in the Gumla witch-hunting case?
The accused is Shamil Dungdung, a resident of the same Khatgaon village. He reportedly suffered from epilepsy for nearly three years and allegedly believed the victim had used witchcraft to cause his illness. He had also allegedly attacked Taramuni Devi in a similar incident in 2025, seriously injuring her.
Had the accused attacked the victim before?
Yes, according to the victim's nephew Ranjit Kerketta, Dungdung carried out a similar axe attack on Taramuni Devi in 2025. She survived that assault with serious injuries, but family members allege he continued to threaten her and brand her a witch despite police action at the time.
What legal action has been taken in the case?
An FIR has been registered at Palkot police station based on a complaint by the victim's husband, Anmol Kerketta. The accused has been detained and police are questioning him while examining all aspects of the case. The body has been sent for postmortem examination.
Why is witch-hunting violence particularly prevalent in Jharkhand?
Jharkhand records some of the highest incidences of witch-hunting violence in India, with tribal women disproportionately targeted. Deep-rooted superstition in remote communities, combined with inconsistent enforcement of anti-witch-hunting laws, leaves vulnerable women exposed — often even after prior police intervention, as this case illustrates.
