Assam: Four Assaulted on Allegation of Practising Witchcraft, 8 Held

BISWANATH CHARIALI: A barbaric incident was reported from a remote village in Assam’s Sonitpur district when a group of villagers beat up four fellow villagers on suspicion of practising witchcraft, according to reports that emerged on Wednesday.

The four victims included a woman, who was also assaulted by the villagers. Eight people were arrested for the heinous crime.

The incident of torture was reported at Anthaibari and Disabari area along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border where the four villagers were physically tortured for allegedly practising witchcraft. People in remote areas of the state still believe in black magic and witchcraft, at a time when science is making much progress.

The Biswanath police were informed and they reached the spot on time to rescue the four victims and arrested eight persons in this connection.

After the arrests, a case has been registered against the perpetrators at Biswanath Chariali Police Station.

The Officer-in-Charge of the Biswanath police station, S Hajowary said, “I immediately asked the police of Balisang police outpost to investigate the matter. A police team immediately reached the spot and rescued four persons. Some people in the area were suffering from some ailments for the last couple of days and the local villagers went to a local woman named Anjali Swargiary who is also a priest to take suggestions.”

Anjali Swargiary reportedly told the villagers that, some people of the area are practising witchcraft and it is for that reason that the villagers are suffering ailments. She is said to have suggested that stern action against the villagers should be taken.

The local villagers reportedly took away four people from the Disabari area on suspicion of witchcraft and beat them up. Later, the police team rescued the victims and admitted them to the hospital, said OC S Hajowary.

The OC further said that the police arrested eight people including women for their involvement in the assault and registered a case against them. He said stern action would be taken against them as per law.

The arrested people have been identified as Anjali Swargiary, Dipen Basumatary, Budhiram Basumatary, Sukur Basumatary, Ranjan Basumatary, Baloram Basumatary, Shiva Boro and Bijay Narzary.

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