18 people arrested in Assam’s Karbi Anglong for murdering couple over witchcraft suspicion

Assam police have arrested 18 people, including four women, for their alleged involvement in the murder of a couple suspected of practicing witchcraft in Karbi Anglong district, officials said.

Assam Police IGP (Law and Order) Akhilesh Kumar Singh said that so far the police have arrested 18 people in connection with the case.

Singh said, “I inspected the place where the incident took place. We do not tolerate such heinous crimes. We have arrested 18 people so far after collecting the evidence. A scientific investigation will be carried out. A few months ago, the court sentenced 23 people to life imprisonment in Sivasagar in connection with a witch hunt case. Justice will be served here too.”

According to the police, at around 8.25 pm on December 30, information was received by the police over the phone that a husband and wife had been killed by villagers on suspicion of practicing witchcraft at Beloguri Munda Gaon Village No. 1 under Hawraghat police station.

“Upon the notice, the police team immediately went to the scene. Upon arrival, it was found that the house of Gardi Beruwa, a resident of No. 1 Beloguri Munda Gaon, had been destroyed and a fire broke out in the front yard of the house. During the investigation, it was learned that Gardi Beruwa (approximately 46 years old) and his wife Mira Beruwa were killed by the villagers on suspicion of witch hunt and their bodies were burned. A senior police official said, “There are ashes in the front yard of their house.”

During the investigation at the scene, police seized soil mixed with blood samples, a wooden stick, and a plastic Gamla containing cow dung liquid suspected to be used to wipe blood stains.

Following the incident, the police police registered a suo-motu case under the Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Act and relevant Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) were also invoked.