Assam Woman Burnt to Death Over Witchcraft Suspicion: Police
A horrific incident unfolded in Bahbari village of Assam’s Tezpur district on Sunday night, as a woman was brutally burned to death on suspicions of witchcraft, according to the police. The victim has been identified as Sangeeta Kati, the wife of Ram Kati.
Local residents quickly informed the authorities about the incident, prompting a police team to rush to the scene, Superintendent of Police Susanta Biswa Sarma confirmed.
The lady was burnt alive by a group of people from the same village. Six people have been arrested in the case. We are interrogating them, and further investigation is going on. We are probing if she was killed on suspicion of practicing witchcraft, Sarma stated.
After the attack, the woman was rushed to a local government hospital but tragically succumbed to her injuries.
The police have shared the identities of the arrested individuals: Ajay Sanghar, Dhiraj Bhaguwar, Suraj Bhaguwar, Pinku Malhar, Baila Sanghar, and Babul Nagdhar. All of them are between the ages of 30 and 35. According to the police, the attackers, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, had tied up Sangeeta’s husband before setting her ablaze.
They have been arrested under charges of murder, forcibly confining and torturing a woman. We may add more charges as the investigation progresses. They will also be produced before the court soon, a police officer familiar with the case revealed.
Following the incident, the victim’s body was sent to Tezpur Medical College and Hospital (TMCH) for a post-mortem examination, with the results still awaited.
It is disheartening to witness such brutal acts perpetrated under the guise of superstition. The belief in witchcraft continues to have a stronghold in certain regions, leading to the persecution and violence against innocent individuals, primarily women.
To combat this deep-rooted issue, it is imperative for society, along with law enforcement agencies and authorities, to unite in creating awareness on the dangers of superstitions and ending the atrocities associated with witchcraft allegations.
The tragic death of Sangeeta Kati serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for education and awareness to eradicate such deeply ingrained beliefs from our society.
