PICS: NARAYAN DHUNGANA CRIME SCENE: Dhegani's father-in-law, Jhari Mahato, points to the spot where she died.

Nepal doesn't make it to the international headlines often. But last week, foreign wire services were filled with stories from Madi Valley, Chitwan, of a gruesome murder. A 40-year-old widow and a mother of two, Dhegani Mahato, was beaten and burnt to death for being a 'witch'.

The person who set Mahato ablaze was none other than her own brother-in-law, Bikana Mahato, who is also a local Maoists cadre. Locals say that Bikana often boasted of his closeness with the Maoists, and had no fear of the police.

Dhegani's children hold her picture.

Superstitious Bikana had been accusing Dhegani of being a witch after his son-in-law, Bikram, fell ill. His superstition was fuelled further by Jogeshwor, who claims to be a shaman. This wasn't the first time Bikana had alleged someone of being a witch. Many other women had already fallen victim to his abuse.

Bikana, who had been arrested for harassing Dhegani, was released only four days before the fatal incident. Neighbour Radhika Chaudhari says that he began planning the murder as soon as he was set free from prison. "He was also chanting, dancing and beating a drum to exorcise evil spirits that he believed plagued his son-in-law," recalls Radhika.

Dhegani had been warned by Bikana's wife, but she didn't take it seriously. On the evening of 17 January, Dhegani left her house to use the latrine, with no idea that Bikana and his accomplices were waiting for her. She was beaten brutally, but the locals heard her screams only after she was set on fire. She was dead by the time anyone had courage to intervene.

"I rushed when I heard her screams," recalls Dherdari Mahato, her neighbour. "They had set her ablaze and threatened to kill me too."

Investigations reveal that Bikana was involved in a land dispute with his father, Jhari Mahato. He had won the case, but was forced to give a small piece of land to Dhegani on insistence of village mediators. "He thought of me as his enemy, but he killed his sister-in-law instead," said Jhari Mahato.

Eleven people have been arrested in connection to the murder after Jhari Mahato filed a complaint. District Police Chief Bhupal Kumar Bhandari stresses on need for strict punishment not only for Bikana but also the bystanders who let Bikana carry out such a heinous act.

As he was being arrested, Bikana was heard mumbling that one witch had been killed and there were 11 more in the village. The women are demanding life sentence for the culprits, in fear that Bikana will be released again and will come after them. Says Radhika, "If he can kill his sister-in-law, he can kill any one of us too."

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