Assam man beaten to death by villagers on suspicion of 'witchcraft'

In a horrifying incident reported from Assam’s Baksa district on Monday, a 50-year-old tribal man was allegedly beaten to death by a group of villagers. The cops suspect it to be a case of witchcraft and have taken five people into their custody for questioning.

The incident took place at Bogoribari village which comes under the jurisdiction of Kumarikata police station near Tamulpur, 79 km from Guwahati.

As maintained by the police, on Monday, the villagers convened a meeting and accused the man of witchcraft. After this, a group of villagers allegedly thrashed the man to death.

The villagers also allegedly attacked the police team when it arrived at the crime spot. The victim was rushed a government hospital where he died due to his injuries.

Tamulpur sub-divisional police officer Aseema Kalita told India Today over phone that the police have thus far taken five people into their custody for questioning.

“A case has been registered after receiving a complaint lodged by the victim’s wife. We have so far detained five persons in connection with the case. We suspect that it is a witch-hunting incident. Our investigation is on," the police officer said.

A relative of the victim stated that the villagers took his life on suspicion of witchcraft. The villagers also vandalised his home, the relative said.

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