Two killed in Assam by villagers on suspicion of them being witches, 9 arrested

According to data presented in the state assembly in November 2019, 107 people have been killed in instances of witch-hunting in Assam since 2011

Published on: Oct 2, 2020, 09:49:31 IST

Hindustan Times, Guwahati | By Utpal Parashar

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Fellow villagers have allegedly killed and burnt bodies of a 50-year-old widow and a 28-year-old man after a kangaroo court in a remote village in Assam’s Karbi Anglong branded them “witches” and held them responsible for a girl’s death on September 27 and for “practising black magic”.

Police superintendent Debojit Deuri said before the girl’s death, the villagers held the two responsible for her sickness. (Sourced)

Police superintendent Debojit Deuri said before the girl’s death, the villagers held the two responsible for her sickness. “The villagers held a kangaroo court in front of the head man’s house on Wednesday night, killed the duo [who are unrelated] and cremated them on a single pyre,” said Deuri.

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He added they have managed to recover some remains of the two from the pyre which will be sent for forensic examination. “Nine persons from the village, including three women involved in the killings, have been arrested. They have confessed to killing the two. Efforts are on to nab six other accused who are absconding.”

A murder case under the Indian Penal Code and the Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Act has been registered against the villagers. “Our effort will be to nab all accused, get all the required evidence and reports from the forensic lab and file a charge sheet in the case within the quickest possible time,” Deuri said.

According to data presented in the state assembly in November 2019, 107 people have been killed in instances of witch-hunting in Assam since 2011.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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