Guwahati, 26th December: In a horrifying incident from Assam’s Sonitpur district, a 30-year-old woman named Sangita Kati lost her life after being accused of practicing witchcraft. The appalling event took place on the night of December 25, 2023, in Bahbari village under the jurisdiction of the Tezpur police station.
Sangita was attacked by her neighbor, Suraj Baghwar, and accomplices allegedly in an inebriated state, who brought people from outside their village to carry out the heinous act. The group tied up Sangita’s husband before brutally assaulting her with sharp weapons and setting her ablaze. Despite immediate medical attention at a local government hospital, Sangita succumbed to her injuries.
Promptly responding to the incident, the police confirmed the arrest of six individuals, including Ajay Sanghar, Dhiraj Bhaguwar, Suraj Bhaguwar, Pinku Malhar, Baila Sanghar, and Babul Nagdhar, aged between 30 and 35. An investigation is underway to ascertain if the motive behind the murder was indeed related to suspicions of witchcraft.
The suspects face charges of murder, forcibly confining, and torturing a woman, with the possibility of additional charges pending the ongoing investigation. They are expected to appear in court soon. Sangita’s body has been sent for a post-mortem examination at Tezpur Medical College and Hospital, and a report is awaited.
This tragic incident underscores the persistent issue of witch-hunting in Assam, a longstanding problem that continues to claim lives and instill fear in communities.
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