Whenever there is any mishap in the village of Mahadevi of Saptari district, people here blame Siyadevi Mandal, 44. She is accused of being a "witch" and is held responsible for everything from floods and fires to cows not giving milk. In a medieval practice, villagers then get together and beat her up. The latest "witch" episode occurred two weeks ago when Siyadevi's neighbours Shyam Prasad and Rukmani Mandal, accused her of performing black magic on their daughter and making her ill and beat her brutally. Siyadevi sustained serious injuries and had to be hospitalised. She and her farmer husband went to the police, but no action has yet been taken against her tormentors.