Six Families Attacked On Charges Of Witch-Hunting in Assam

Guwahati: Several members of six families hailing from the Satgaon area of Baithalangso in the West Karbi Anglong district were accused of witch-hunting as a result of which their houses got vandalized by the villagers of the area.

They also suffered injuries as the assailants reportedly manhandled them.

Thabina Marak, Abina Marak, Merry Marak, Jaysinta Sangma, Hemis Marak and others were identified as the injured persons.

The families of the victims say that this horrific incident occurred on the morning of 5 January.

It has been alleged that a local priest of a church accused them of witch-hunting.

The family members are of the view that the priest allegedly accused the six families of spreading diseases in the area while he was attending to an ill person.

Reportedly, the residences of the families of the victims were also not spared and it was damaged in the incident.

The Assam Government has undertaken some measures to tackle the menace of this social evil. One such measure is The Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Act 2015 that came into force in 2018.

Under this law, any offence under the act is considered as non-bailable, cognizable and non-compoundable to eliminate the superstition from society. The punishments are harsh looking at the magnanimity of the situation.

Also read: 6 Schools in Assam's Lumding to Remain Closed for a Week

Also watch: