A couple was brutally attacked and burnt alive by a group of villagers in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district after being accused of practising witchcraft, police said on Wednesday.
The incident occurred on Tuesday night at No. 1 Beloguri Munda village in the Howraghat area. According to officials, the victims were first assaulted with sharp weapons inside their home before the house was set on fire, leading to their deaths.
Police said the villagers allegedly believed that the couple was involved in witchcraft and responsible for bringing misfortune and ill effects to the surrounding area. The victims have been identified as Gardi Birowa (43) and Mira Birowa (33).
Senior police officers and civil administration officials reached the spot soon after the incident and have launched a detailed investigation. Efforts are underway to identify and arrest those involved in the attack.
Authorities said superstition and witch-hunting practices remain a serious concern in parts of the region, despite legal provisions that criminalise such acts. Witch-hunting is a punishable offence under state law, in addition to charges under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Officials stressed that strict action would be taken against those responsible and appealed to communities to refrain from violence driven by superstition and rumours.
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