Witchcraft Magic: Villagers in Assam Beat Man to Death on Suspicion of Witchcraft

A CORRESPONDENT

BAKSA: The incident in which a 50-year-old man named Biren Boro was brutally killed on suspicion of being a witch on Monday in Kumarikata Angarakata Bwiriguri village under Tamulpur police station in Baksa, continues to create a sensation in the entire district.

Meanwhile, Baksa district Superintendent of Police Rajen Singh reached Kumarikata late Monday night and took stock of the situation. BTAD DIG Violet Baruai also reached Kumarikata police station on Tuesday morning and held discussions with Tamulpur Subdivisional Police Officer Aseema Kalita, officer-in-charge of Tamulpur police station, Inspector Dwipen Kalita, and took into account the current law-and-order situation.

In charge of the Kumarikata police outpost, Nilabhjyoti Nath is continuing a strong investigation into the incident after the murder of Biren Boro. On Tuesday, Tamulpur Subdivisional Police Officer Aseema Kalita, Officer-in-charge of Tamulpur police station, Inspector Dwipen Kalita, and in-charge of Kumarikata police outpost Nilabhjyoti Nath reached Angarkata Bwigriguri village along with a police team and arrested three men and 10 women and brought them to Tamulpur police station for interrogation. After interrogation, police arrested two persons involved in the incident and produced them before the judicial magistrate in Baksa district headquarter Muslimpur, and later sent them to judicial custody. The two arrested persons are Rwmwi Basumatary (21), son of Maheshwar Basumatari of Angarakata Bairig, and Subal Boro (30), son of Lakshman Boro, who belongs to Angarkata Bwigriguri village. Other persons were released after interrogation.

There has been a strong reaction across the region over the witch hunt in the era of science and technology. Reacting to such incidents, Leho Ram Boro, a cultural activist from Tamulpur and MLA, said, "In the age of science and technology, it is very unfortunate that some people have committed such an incident due to superstitious beliefs. Such incidents are condemnable. Awareness has to be created by holding meetings by conscious individuals, student organizations, and the administration to address such superstitions."

Baksa district All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) president Umesh Daimary said, "In the 21st century, incidents like these are highly condemnable and unfortunate. The people of the society should now be aware. There is no such thing as a witch in the age of science and technology."

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