Sensational incident in India, couple killed on ‘witch’ charges

It seems that the Middle Ages have returned to India. A tragic murder due to superstition has taken place in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district. This hellish incident of burning a couple alive on suspicion of ‘witch’ took place in Beloguri Munda village under Howrahat police station. The names of the deceased couple are Gardi Birua (43) and Meera Birua (33).
According to police sources, some people from the village attacked the couple on the suspicion of ‘witch’ at around 8:15 pm on Tuesday (December 30). The miscreants first vandalized their house and then set it on fire. In an interview given to news agency ANI, Karbi Anglong Senior Superintendent of Police Pushparaj Singh said that it was clearly a ‘witch hunt’ incident. The attackers attacked the couple and burnt them in the courtyard of the house.
On receiving information, the police quickly reached the spot and recovered a pot filled with blood-stained soil, wooden sticks and water mixed with cow dung. It is believed that the accused used cow dung water to wipe away evidence. Senior officials of the Karbi Anglong district administration visited the spot. Meanwhile, a special operation has been launched to arrest the culprits. It is noteworthy that despite the stringent laws against witch-hunting in Assam, such crimes have not stopped. As per the Supreme Court’s orders, labelling someone as a ‘witch’ is a punishable offence. Last May, the Assam government announced a new special policy to eradicate this evil practice, but two more lives were lost due to superstition. Police have been deployed in the area to ensure security.