Couple Burnt Alive on Suspicion of Practicing Witchcraft in Assam’s Karbi Anglong

Police said that the horrific incident occurred on Tuesday at No. 1 Beloguri Munda village in the Howraghat area of Karbi Anglong.

The victims were identified as Gardi Birowa (43) and Mira Birowa (33). The attackers first attacked the couple with sharp weapons inside their house and later set the premises on fire, resulting in their death. Soon after the incident, police reached the village and began an investigation. All the accused were arrested.

Police said that the region where the incident took place has been known for villagers believing in superstition. Pointing out that even after police action many villagers tried to justify their action against the couple, a senior police officer told this newspaper that such horrifying incidents could be stopped only by carrying out a massive drive by educating the villagers against misconception of witchcraft.

Informing that besides provisions under various sections of the BNS, witch hunting is also a criminal offense under state law, police said that villagers accused the couple of practising sorcery and attacked them with sharp weapons before setting their house on fire.

The experts while stressing the need of a drive to counter such practices still prevalent in some pockets of the state said that the practice of witchcraft has been observed in many tribal communities in Assam but is more among the Rabha, Boro, Mising, Karbi, Dimasa, and Adivasi communities.