Two injured in witch-hunt in Kokrajhar

From our
Correspondent
KOKRAJHAR, Nov 22: Two members of a family were injured following an altercation over the allegation of being a witch at Jordanpur village under Kokrajhar Police Station on Monday evening.
Human rights activist Dibajyoti Saikia of Guwahati told this correspondent that the case was shocking and it took place due to lack of education. He said the people of remote places were educatiolly backward and there were no proper health services to wipe away superstition.
According to police, Maoria Basumatary and his son Carol Basumatay were injured when they were allegedly physically assaulted by Soben Basumatary and his family members when they protested against the allegation that his wife was a witch. According to Maoria, his neighbour Soben was spreading false allegation against his wife Rupasri, an ICDS worker, accusing her of practicing black magic. Local sources said the allegation started after Soben’s wife and his grandson died due to illness in October. On Monday evening, Maoria visited his neighbour Soben’s house to object to the allegation against his wife and an altercation took place between the two families. In the altercation, Maoria and his son Carol, a Class XII student, were physical assaulted. They were later admitted at RN Brahma Civil Hospital.
A case was registered against Soben Basumatary. Police have already started investigation. ICDS worker Rupasri said she was accused of being a witch by Soben and his family since his wife died last month due to illness. She also said she had no idea about black magic but was simply an ICDS worker. Local villagers said Soben did not consult doctors when his wife and grandson were ill and practiced ojha.
In another shocking incident, Kamal Mushahary allegedly burnt his wife Sumitra Mushahary, the mother of four children, at village Magurmari under Kokrajhar PS by pouring kerosene on her on Monday evening. It is suspected that a dispute between the husband and wife led to this extreme move.
Sumitra Basumatary sustained injuries on her body and she was brought to Rupth Brahma Civil Hospital in Kokrajhar. She said that her husband burnt her with kerosene in their house and also alleged that her husband used to torture her.