In yet another gruesome incident of “witch-hunting”, a 63-year-old woman was beheaded by the locals in a remote Assam village on Monday, as they suspected her of practising sorcery.
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He said his wife was an “innocent woman” and the villagers were coaxed in believing that she was a witch by the village priest. The disgusting incident took place in a village in Assam.
“Today (Tuesday), we arrested nine women from the village”.
“Following this, the mob rushed to Orang’s house and dragged her out, took her to a nearby stream, nearly stripped her naked and beheaded her in broad daylight”, the ASP was quoted as saying.
Since such an incident could lead to communal tensions between Adivasi and Karbi (an ethnic group in north-east India) people, police have deployed additional forces to ensure the situation is under control.
The arrested accused persons are: Dehram Bey, Naren Ronghang, Raju Bey, Biren Bey, Amar Rangpi, Rabi Engti, Khagen Bey, Priyanka Behpai, Langley Rongpipi, Maina Rangpipi, Dimi Terangpi, Monika Rangpipi, Kabey Rongpi, Badasa Rangpipi, Santi Rangpipi and Sita Beipee. The villagers also prevented the police from reaching the spot, the SP said.
Though, the police arrested seven people who were involved in the ghastly act, the entire village gathered on Tuesday to justify the killing and demanded release of those arrested.
Witch-hunting is a evil practice, and superstition still exists among some communities in Assam.
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There have been reports of more than 100 women killed in witch hunts in the past six years.
