Mob assaults elderly Garo tribal couple for practising witchcraft along the Assam-Meghalaya border in Boko

A Correspondent

Boko: A mob of more than 400 villagers accused an elderly Garo tribal couple of practising witchcraft and assaulted them in Dagaon village under Boko Legislative Constituency along the Assam-Meghalaya border of Kamrup district on Sunday.

Around 8.30 am on Sunday, a team of Boko Police led by officer in-charge of Boko Police Station, Jogendra Barman, rescued the couple and immediately admitted them in the Boko First Refer Unit Hospital for preliminary treatment. The couple was referred to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for better treatment.

Luind Sangma (80) and Pritila Sangma (65) of Dagaon village were beaten up and tortured by the villagers who branded them as witches and held them captive since Saturday evening. Jogendra Barman, officer-in-charge of Boko police station, said, “The couple, belonging to the Garo community, was tortured physically by people of their own community during captivity. However, after being intimated this morning, we immediately rushed to the spot and rescued the couple. The villagers held them responsible for the death of a person in the village.”

The villagers had organized a public meeting prior to confining the couple for practising witchcraft. Barman said that investigation was going on and a case would be registered once an FIR in this regard was lodged at Boko police station.

Benedict Alok Areng, president of Garo National Council of Kamrup and Goalpara district, said that the area was totally backward and people were deprived of proper education, health and other facilities due to the alleged negligence of the government towards the people living along the Assam-Meghalaya border. Due to lack of education, medical and other facilities, the villagers have superstitious beliefs, he said.

Also read: Assam news