Spirituality

Three women are held after an alleged witchcraft killing in Assam.

A 68-year-old woman was allegedly killed after being accused of witchcraft in Assam's Tinsukia district, and three women have been arrested, The Times of India reports. The newspaper identified the woman as Dhumri Santhal and said the attack took place on November 1 in Ultapool Ouguri village, under Digboi police station.

The Times of India reported that villagers accused Santhal of witchcraft or black magic and that she was allegedly attacked with a machete. A court sent the three accused women to judicial custody on Thursday, and police were continuing their investigation.

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Police investigate the village attack#

A police officer told Rediff that villagers allegedly believed people who spoke to the woman would die. The officer said villagers smeared lime on her face, paraded her through the village and beat her. Rediff identified the woman as Dhumru Chautal, a different spelling from the one used by The Times of India.

The officer told Rediff that the woman died after the assault and that villagers cremated her immediately. Police found no remains when they reached the village, the officer said. Rediff reported that the incident came to police attention after local residents informed them.

According to The Times of India, confidential information prompted a police investigation, followed by the arrest of three village women on Wednesday. The newspaper named them as Buri Santhal, 45, Simla Majhi, 35, and Anima Santhal, 48.

Assam's witch-hunting law applies#

Police registered a case at Digboi police station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, or BNS, and the Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Act, 2015. The Assam law criminalises witch-hunting, according to The Times of India.

The Times of India reported that accusations of witchcraft in Assam have been associated with harassment, social exclusion, assaults and killings, particularly involving elderly women and other members of rural communities. India Today NE reported that such incidents have continued despite the state law.

Police are still working to establish the sequence of events and whether other people were involved, The Times of India reported. A police officer told Rediff that legal action would be taken against others involved in the incident.

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