Thousands of women tortured and executed in Indian witch hunts

By Terrence McCoy
Updated July 22 2014 - 2:08pm, first published 1:08pm
Pusanidevi Manjhi, pictured with husband Gooda and their children, was accused of being a witch by a landowner in Palani, India. Photo: The Washington Post/Rama Lakshmi
Pusanidevi Manjhi, pictured with husband Gooda and their children, was accused of being a witch by a landowner in Palani, India. Photo: The Washington Post/Rama Lakshmi

If it began like the others, the first sign that Saraswati Devi would be murdered was an accusation delivered to a shaman. Perhaps she had offended someone. Perhaps someone had fallen sick and had wondered why. Perhaps a community well had suddenly dried and someone needed blaming. Perhaps they chose her because Devi was lower caste, because she was a woman, and because they’d probably get away with it.

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