New Delhi, July 16 (UNI) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo moto cognizance of a media report revealing the gruesome murder of five members of a Scheduled Tribe family in Purnia district of Bihar. The victims, including three women, were allegedly hacked to death and their bodies burned by a mob on the suspicion of practicing witchcraft, on the night of July 6, 2025.
In a statement issued today, the NHRC said if the contents of the media report are true, it would constitute a serious violation of human rights.
The Commission has directed Bihar’s Chief Secretary and Director General of Police to submit a detailed report within two weeks, outlining the current status of the investigation and the arrests made so far in connection with the crime.
Furthermore, the NHRC has called for immediate measures to ensure the safety of the 16-year-old boy, who is reportedly the sole survivor of the brutal attack and a key eyewitness to the incident. The Commission has also instructed the State Government to provide psychological counseling and protection to the young survivor.
According to the media report, published on July 8, 2025, the 16-year-old boy recounted the horrifying sequence of events. He informed the police that a mob of approximately 50 people stormed into his family’s home, accusing his mother of practicing witchcraft.
The mob initially assaulted his mother with bamboo sticks, calling her a witch, before turning on the rest of the family who had tried to intervene. The attackers hacked each family member to death in front of the boy, then carried the bodies some 100-150 meters away from their home and set them ablaze.
The villagers, the report adds, had suspected that the family was responsible for the recent death and illness of a boy in the village, attributing it to alleged witchcraft practices.
