Was An Adivasi Woman In Assam Burnt Alive Due To Witchcraft?

In a shocking incident, a 30-year-old Adivasi woman was attacked with sharp weapons and burnt to death over the suspicion that she was practising witchcraft. The incident happened on Sunday in Bahbari Village under Tezpur police station in Sonitpur district of Assam. The police have arrested six people in the village regarding the incident. 

According to the police, the deceased has been identified as Sangeeta Kati, wife of Ram Kati. The police rushed to the spot when the locals of the village informed them about the incident. The police said that the woman was burnt alive by a group of men in the same village. 

Details Of The Incident

Superintendent of Police, Susanta Biswa Sarma said "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 practising witchcraft."

The police further said that the woman was immediately rushed to the government hospital. However, she succumbed to her injuries. The six people who have been arrested in the case have been identified as Ajay Sanghar, Dhiraj Bhaguwar, Suraj Bhaguwar, Pinku Malhar, Baila Sanghar and Babul Nagdhar.

They were in an inebriated state when the incident happened. They tied the woman's husband and set the woman ablaze. 

According to the Times of India, in charge of the Bebejia police outpost under Tezpur police station, Diganda Saikia said, "The accused are the neighbours of the couple. The accused have been identified by the husband of the deceased woman. They had a suspicion that the woman was involved in the practice of witchcraft. The village is not a backward place but yes, it seems that the people there are superstitious."

Charges of murder and of forcibly confining and torturing a woman have been imposed on those who have been arrested. "We may add more charges as the investigation progresses. They will also be produced before the court soon," a police officer said. 

Moreover, a post-mortem of the woman's body was conducted at the Tezpur Medical College and Hospital (TMCH). The report, however, is awaited.