45-year-old Parbati Sapkota of Latu in Chokati VDC-6 is arrested by the police on October 5 on the charge of blaming 35-year-old Geeta Bhattarai of the same place of being a witch. Bhattarai had filed a complaint against Sapkota at District Police Office on October 4 saying that on September 27 the accused had charged her of being a witch. Sapkota accused that her daughter-in-law Bachchu Bhattarai became ill after Bhattarai cast spell on her. Geeta added that she was repeatedly being insulted by the villagers on the same charge. On September 28, Bhattarai's family had gathered village elder to discuss the incident. Bhattarai added that the accused refused to take back her charge forcing her to report the incident to the police. A local Ramkaji Bhattarai said that both women are distant relatives.

Natibabu Dhital