13 more arrested, villagers to undergo counselling

Bhimajuli witch-hunting

A Correspondent

Biswath Chariali, July 21: Thirteen more people were arrested today in connection with the beheading of a 65-year-old woman at Bhimajuli village under Biswath Chariali subdivision yesterday.  With this, the total number of arrests has gone up to 16. All have been sent to judicial custody.

According to the ASP (HQ) Samad Hussein, nine of the arrested are women and seven men. Police has already registered a case under sections 143/120(b)/448/302 in Biswath police station.

On the other hand, an expert team from Tezpur Mental Hospital has been roped in to counsel the villagers on superstitious beliefs. The subdivision administration has organized a meeting in this regard at the conference hall of the SDO(civil) office tomorrow at 11 am. Representatives of local student organizations, women organizations, leading citizens, NGOs and mediapersons have been invited to the meeting. SDO(C) Biswath Pallav Gopal Jha, SP Biswath police district Mabendra Devroy and officials from the subdivisiol health department will also attend the meeting.

Experts from Tezpur Mental Hospital will address issues and concerns related to witch-hunting in society and elaborate on measures to combat it effectively. Villagers of Bhimajuli had yesterday executed 65-year-old Purni Orang after she was proclaimed a witch by another village woman Anima Ronhangpi who claimed to have been possessed by a goddess.