SHILLONG, AUG 20: Twelve persons were arrested by the police for their involvement in the August 16 brutal killing of three persons who were allegedly branded as practioner of witchcraft (menaiksuid or menshohnoh) at Smit village.
East Khasi hills SP M Kharkhrang told reporters on Tuesday, “We have arrested twelve people all are relatives after they were found to have been involved in the recent murder of the three.” He said the arrest came after three females were picked up on Monday and based on their statements a police team led by SP (city) Vivek Syiem went in the wee hours Tuesday and arrested nine others.
The three people who were killed by angry mob are Yesly Mawthoh, his son D Nongdhar and Besly Mawthoh. A person from the same locality had alleged that the three had performed some kind of witchcraft rituals on him last week. It is also learnt that all the three killed were local farmers.
Out of the 12 arrested, six are females.
Six women included Barishisha Nongrum (22), Meristylla Nongrum (38), Badnosha Nongrum (40), Risuklang Nongrum (30), Baladeimon Nongrum (30) and Mildred Nongrum (40). The other arrested persons were identified as Rajeshwell Nongrum (39), Samuel Nongrum (35), Sirus Nongrum (49), Hapliang Nengnong (45), Donbokskhem Nongrum (28) and Lius Nongrum (50).
Police registered two cases under IPC relating to murder, pelting stones, injuring police personnel and damage of government and public vehicles,Kharkhrang informed.
While stating that the police are looking into the case from a conspiracy angle too, Kharkhrang said, “Earlier before the incident, the accused had already contemplated some conspiracy. Some plans were already there to cause harm to the deceased.”
According to Kharkhrang after the three came to know about the rumours, they had gone to meet the family of the boy who had accused them of having done witchcraft but only to be killed.
Stating that the family of the boy claimed as an assault by the three the boy was in an unconscious state, Kharkhrang said, “We will also investigate as to how the names of the deceased came up.”
All the accused have been remanded to seven days police custody.
Kharkhrang hoped to arrest more after the police interrogates the arrested persons as they are likely to name some more people involved in the murder case.
Saying that the incident of alleged witchcraft has become an epidemic, Kharkhrang said, “Police are determine to ensure that the perpetrators of such crimes should face penalty according to the law and we will booked everyone involved and ensure justice.”
A exasperated Kharkhrang said,“Enough is enough, now law will take its own course.”
While the person who had accused the three deceased of witchcraft is still undergoing treatment in a hospital in the city, Kharkhrang said, “We will be meeting him (boy) to find out what exactly happened that led to the murder of the trios.”
The police have registered more than 9 cases of incidents related directly to witchcraft in East Khasi hills distirct alone this year despite awareness campaign undertaken..
Kharkhrang said, “It’s not a question of literacy or remoteness of a place, but the Smit incident only shows that people don’t want to accept and abide by the law.”
Superintendent of Police (city) Vivek Syiem on the other hand emphasized the need to conduct some kind of an academic research to find out the root-causes of such incidents.
Syiem said, “Awareness in educational institutions is needed as it not enough to depend only on police actions. We need a comprehensive approach to deal with such cases which has become an epidemic to our society.” – By Our Reporter
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