Assam: 50-year-old widow tagged as "witch" in Karbi Anglong, killed and burnt

Dokmoka: In yet another shocking incident reported from Dokmoka in Assam's Karbi Anglong district, two persons were brutally beaten to death by a mob, and their bodies subsequently set on fire. One of the persons who was killed, villagers alleged, was practicing witchcraft.

As per reports, locals suspected that a 50-year-old widow was practicing witchcraft after a village girl had died under mysterious circumstances. A makeshift court sentenced the 'witch' to death, following which a mob attacked her. When a 28-year-old teacher tried to intervene, he too was thrashed brutally. The superstitious villagers then proceeded to burn the bodies of the  suspected 'witch.'

Nine locals (including three women) have been arrested for killing the two persons. This recent incident has sent ripples of fear across the entirety of Assam, where "witch-hunting" is a fairly common practice. Due to repeated incidents of villagers killing women suspected to be "witches", the government has been compelled to impose severe punishments for such acts.

Since 2018, the Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Act, 2015, has been in use in the state. According to the new law, witch-hunting is viewed as a "cognizable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable offense." It was passed by Assam Assembly in 2015 with provisions of jail term up to life imprisonment.

Also Watch: Assam DIG (retd) who owns 8kg gold, 5 hotels, 5 flats, 2 tea estates, 1500 bighas of land