A woman aged 35 was reportedly set on fire and killed late Sunday evening in Bahbari village, Sonitpur district, Assam. Six people have been apprehended in connection with the murder, but the police have yet to determine if the woman was slain due to the accused’s presumption that she was a witch. The woman was rushed to a closeby public hospital where she unfortunately passed away from her wounds, as reported by the police.
On Monday, Superintendent of Police for Sonitpur district Susanta Biswa Sarma announced that a police team had been dispatched upon receiving information from the local area. He commented that a few villagers have been detained for allegedly setting the woman on fire and are in the process of being interrogated. He added that currently, there is no confirmation that the woman’s death was due to accusations of witchcraft.
Six individuals between the ages of 30 and 35, Ajay Sanghar, Dhiraj Bhaguwar, Suraj Bhaguwar, Pinku Malhar, Baila Sanghar, and Babul Nagdhar were apprehended by the police. The body of Sangeeta Kati, who was the wife of Ram Kati, a local inhabitant, has been sent to the Tezpur Medical College and Hospital for an autopsy. The villagers have mentioned that Sangeeta had been attacked in the past due to rumors of her practicing sorcery. On Sunday night, a group of people, with the support of her family, set her on fire in a field.