Several arrested in witch-hunting case in Biswanath Chariali

A CORRESPONDENT

BISWANATH CHARIALI: As many as eight persons were arrested by police after four people were allegedly attacked by them accusing them of practicing black magic in an interior village in Biswanath subdivision along the Assam-Arunachal border on Tuesday. The incident took place when several children in two villages fell ill and started to behave in an eccentric manner.

A section of the villagers suspected foul play in the incident and they approached the village priest, Anjali Swargiyari, requesting her to resolve the issue. Swargiyari informed the villagers that four particular persons were to be blamed for the condition of the children as those people were practicing witchcraft in the area. The priest advised that the four accused should be punished so that they confess their doings and thus, the life of the children could be saved.

Subsequently, the villagers caught the four accused, including a woman, and severely beat them. However, police got information and reached the spot to rescue the victims. They were rushed to hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, police arrested the priest and seven others in connection with the case.

The eight accused were identified as Anjali Swargiyari (village priest), Dipen Swargiyari, Buddhiram Basumatary, Sukur Basumatary, Rajeeb Basumatary, Baluram Basumatary, Shiva Boro and Bijay Narzary. Investigation is going on.