Old woman’s torture: Bail to eight accused

Legal Correspondent

Shimla, December 6

The High Court today granted bail to the eight accused who were allegedly involved in torturing an old woman of Samahal village of Sarkaghat, Mandi district, on the suspicion of her being a sorceress.

Granting the bail to the accused, the court imposed stringent conditions, directing them to not enter within a radius of five km of the residence of the victim until the statements of all witnesses were recorded during the trial and joint investigation.

The allegations against the accused were that they smeared soot on the face of an old woman, garlanded her with shoes, broke her household articles along with idols of worship on the suspicion that she indulged in witchcraft. They also smeared soot on her middle-aged daughter, who came to her rescue.

The FIR was registered with the police station Sarkaghat on November 9 for the commission of offences punishable under Sections 147, 149, 454, 455, 435, 354, 355, 427, 504, 506, 508, 323, 500, 380, 201,120B, IPC.