By TC News Desk
Agartala, 4th September 2025: In a chilling case of medieval brutality in the digital age, a 26-year-old woman was allegedly subjected to a horrific “witch test” by her in-laws, who burned her hand with candle flames in a bid to prove she was a witch. The incident took place in the Dhalabil area of Khowai district.
It is reported that a resident Sanjita Jhara of East Belcherra under Baijalbari police station was married to Swaranjit Jhara of Praharmura village in the Dhalabil panchayat. Since her marriage, Sanjita had reportedly been branded a “witch” by her husband’s siblings and their spouses, who claimed she brought misfortune to the family.
The situation escalated on September 02 last when Sanjita’s in-laws summoned her father, Sunil Jhara, to their home under the pretext of conducting a “witch test.” Once there, both Sunil and Swaranjit were allegedly forced out of the room while the door was locked from inside. The in-laws then lit a candle and pressed Sanjita’s hands over the flame, declaring that if she were innocent, her skin would remain unharmed. Her screams were reportedly drowned out by loud ritualistic drumming and bell-ringing performed by her brothers-in-laws Anjan, Ranjan and Anjit Jhara to prevent neighbors from hearing her cries.
This afternoon, Sunil Jhara recounted the ordeal to journalists at Khowai District Hospital, describing how his daughter was tortured while he and his son-in-law were kept outside. “They held her hands over the flame until the candle burned out. They believed this would prove whether she was a witch,” he said.
The family has since approached the local panchayat and filed a complaint with the Khowai Women’s Police Station. As of now, there has been no official response from law enforcement. The family is demanding justice and action against those responsible, including the local healer (ojha) who allegedly confirmed the witchcraft accusation.
The survivor Sanjita Jhara remains in distress awaiting justice and hoping that authorities will act against the perpetrators and the dangerous superstitions that enabled such cruelty.
