January 5, 2026
The village has remained under a cloud of fear and tension
Kamal Kumar Biswas.TOD.Kumarganj
A horrifying incident of superstition-driven violence has shaken South Dinajpur district of West Bengal. A 68-year-old woman, Lakshmi Soren, was allegedly beaten to death on suspicion of witchcraft at Baro Mamudpur village under Ramkrishnapur Gram Panchayat in the Kumarganj block. The main accused in the case is her own grandson, Sanjay Tudu (17), who has been detained by the police.According to local sources, Lakshmi Soren had been facing allegations of being a “witch” for quite some time. It is alleged that Sanjay Tudu believed his sister’s illness was caused by his grandmother’s supposed witchcraft. There had been previous incidents of harassment and attacks against the elderly woman as reported by the locals.
The brutal attack took place on the evening of January 4 at around 6:30 pm, when Sanjay Tudu, along with a few others, allegedly dragged Lakshmi Soren out of her house and assaulted her mercilessly on the concrete road in front of the house. Her son, Monglu Tudu (30), and daughter-in-law, Latika Hansda, tried desperately to save her but failed.As the situation worsened, Monglu Tudu ran to the house of a local gram panchayat member seeking help. Kanak Sarkar, husband of panchayat member Ranjita Barman, stated that Monglu arrived breathless, pleading, “They will kill my mother, please save her.” Kanak Sarkar immediately informed Kumarganj police station.
Police rushed to the spot and rescued Lakshmi Soren in a critical condition, taking her to Kumarganj Rural Hospital. However, the attending doctor declared her dead on arrival.There were also reports of an attempted arson attack on the victim’s house following the incident. Considering the tense situation, police set up a picket in the village. For their safety, Monglu Tudu and his wife, who tried to protect the victim, were placed under safe custody.Since the incident, the village has remained under a cloud of fear and tension. Most male residents are reportedly absent, and only a few women were seen in some houses, unwilling to speak. Police sources indicated a climate of fear and an attempt to suppress information among villagers.Monglu Tudu has filed a written complaint at Kumarganj police station against his nephew Sanjay Tudu, son of late Shyamal Tudu. The deceased’s body has been sent to Balurghat police morgue for post-mortem examination. Police officials have stated that strict action will be taken against anyone found involved in this heinous crime.
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