Incident Reports

Dalit woman tortured by Shaman in Kavre in witchcraft allegations

2020-10-31

Bagmati, Kabhrepalanchok, Panchkhal, Ward 9

Sharmila BK of Panchkhal Municipality Ward No. 9 of Kavre had been taking medication for depression for two years and her daily life was becoming normal. However, on October 31, she suddenly felt sick again and started to shake and shout at the people close to her. Her husband called a famous shaman to treat her but she accused Sharmila as a witch and with hot metal spatula burned her face and body.  

A case was registered against 19-year-old shaman Ishwori Thapa of Panchkhal Municipality Ward No. 12 for committing such an inhumane act and she is currently in police custody. For the past year and a half, the perpetrator Thapa popularly known as Mata was practicing such inhumane acts on many people.


Details and Impacts
Violent / Non-violent Violent
Onesided / Twosided Onesided
Collective / Interpersonal Interpersonal
Primary Form Assault (small group)
Weapons Other
Primary Cause Extra-judicial response on basis of witchcraft allegations
Actor 1 - Number of people n/a
Actor 1 - Affiliations Citizen/Individuals
Actor 1 - Youth youth
Actor 2 - Number of people 1
Actor 2 - Affiliation (Target) Dalit
Actor 2 - Youth na
Total Injured 1
Female Injured 1
National/Online Media

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