Ostracised over witchcraft claims, a Santhal family’s quest for home

A Santhal family in Bengal’s Birbhum district has been wandering from village to village for three years after being accused of witchcraft and thrown out of their home. Despite government officials providing them with shelter in a community hall, the family fears they will not be able to stay there indefinitely. The family’s situation highlights the issue of ostracism in tribal communities in Bengal, where rivalries over land or property are often the root cause. Some tribal groups in the region want their religion, Sarna, to be recognised as separate from Hinduism.