Two witch-hunt victims rescued in Jorhat, complaint lodged against villagers

From a Correspondent

Jorhat, May 3: An incident of alleged witchcraft practice at Bahphola area situated on the outskirts of Jorhat town created sensation among the people of Jorhat on Tuesday.

According to information, police rescued a woman and a man from the clutches of many villagers of Bahphola Sankarchook village under Pulibor police station in the district at around 12.30 pm on Tuesday when the villagers tried to kill them suspecting them to be witches.

 The victims were identified as Maya Pegu Dolley and Ghonoshyam Gowala of Bahphola Sankarchuk village, situated on the southern bank of River Brahmaputra in the district. They were allegedly confined by a large number of villagers belonging to Mishing community since Monday afternoon. The villagers alleged that the duo were practicing witchcraft and they should be killed and throw into the river to save the villagers from their superstitious fears.

Talking to The Sentinel, Officer in-charge of Pulibor police station Prokash Sarmah said, “We received a complaint from the elder brother of Maya Pegu Dolley,  Jibon Pegu on Tuesday. On receiving the complaint we launched an operation and rescued Maya Pegu Dolley and Ghonoshyam Gowala of Bahphola Sankarchuk village, where they were confined by some villagers. The villagers alleged that the duo were practicing witchcraft and they should be killed and throw into the river to save the villagers from their superstitious fears.”

Sarmah also said, “As per prelimiry investigations, it is found that Maya, a resident of Merapani Gomariguri Baghedhora gaon in Golaghat district got married to Monjit Pegu of Bahphola Sankarchook village about four years ago, but they have no child. Therefore, Maya started prayers seeking the blessings of the almighty to have a child by organizing various pujas in her house. Her neighbour Ghonoshyam also assisted her to perform pujas. They also met a quack who suggested them to perform some pujas and accordingly they did it. So the locals suspected them of practicing witchcraft.”

He also said, “The villagers had called another woman quack from Dergaon area to examine Maya on Monday. The woman quack stated that Maya was practicing witchcraft for which the locals became angry with both Maya and Ghonoshyam and confined them from 4 pm on Monday.”

Jibon Pegu, who lodged the complaint, said, “My sister and Ghonoshyam were confined by the villagers since Monday. The villagers also assaulted them overnight. Today they planned to kill both Maya and Ghonoshyam by assaulting with sharp weapons. However, police could rescue them safely.”