Skip to content Skip to navigation

Awareness meeting on witch hunting

By AT Kokrajhar Bureau |

A social awareness campaign against the killing of innocent people on the suspicious of witchcraft practice was held on Thursday among the villagers at East Maligaon in Kokrajhar, where Ashinta Basumatary, a college student was killed allegedly after his family members were suspected of practicing black magic.

It was organised by the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) in association with Kokrajhar district administration, the meeting was attended by Kokrajhar Deputy Commissioner Madhav Prasad Sarma, Kokrajhar Superinntendent of Police Shyamal Prasad Saikia, members from ABSU, Bodo Samaj, NGOs and locals.

Sarma, in his speech said killing of innocent people in the name of witch hunting is never justified. He said the law is tough against the people indulging in such practice. He said a person will get minimum 3 years in jail if he/she calls anyone a witch.

Saikia, Kokrajhar SP said those involved in the killing of innocent people in the name of witch-hunt will not be spared. He said those involved in the killing of college student Ashinta Basumatary in the name of witch hunting will be arrested and punished as per law. He said that government has been taking stern action against the situations. ‘We must stop suspecting and indulging of zelousy feeling to creating congenial moment among human society so that the situation could be stopped in near future’,Sarma said.

The All Bodo Students and members of various NGOs calls for tough action against the people involved in superstitious belief of witch hunt. It called upon the police administration to arrest the culprits involved in the killing.

Digambar Narzary,NGO activist said that killing of innocent people is very serious situation.We should not be allowed to kill any person in the name of witch craft among society. We must stop belief of witch craft.

 

‘There is no longer of witch craft in the society,whatever happen among human society, the judiciary will take its course’, Narzary said.

Ashinta Basumatary alias Ola, a BA 4 Semester student at UN Brahma College, Kajalgaon in Chirang was forcefully taken away and killed on 22 April. His body was recovered from the bank of the Samokha river near Badrampur village in Kokrajhar on May 1 last.  Ashinta family were accused of practicing black magic. Ashinta’s mother Gaijrai was accused of being a witch five years back after the death of her husband. and forced to leave her house last December. She has since been living at her parents house at Soulmari in Gossaigaon subdivision.

 

Police have so far arrested three persons in this connection. Five main accused-Thobra Narzary, Gobinda Basumatary, Elen Narzary, Borai Basumatary and Sontola Basumatary in the FIR are still on run.

Add new comment

Random Stories

The price is not right

21 Sep 2007 - 7:49am | Rituparna Goswami Pande
The rising price of onions is bringing real tears in the eyes of the consumers. The onion vendors are pricing them at exorbitant prices forcing the public to opt for an onion free diet. Onions are an...

APSC scam: APS officer’s wife facing probe

31 Mar 2018 - 11:14am | AT News
GUWAHATI: The Dibrugarh polic team probing the APSC scam is interrogating the wife of an arrested police officer for allegedly helping her husband resorting to forgery. Acting on the revelations,...

Investors meet on Development of Mineral Resource

7 Nov 2009 - 5:29am | trishnalineog
To encourage investment in exploration and exploitation of minerals for the development of mineral based industry in the North Eastern States an "Investors Meet and Conference on Development of...
Madhav Prasad Sarma, Kokrajhar DC giving away blanket to a beneficiary at a programme in Kokrajhar, on Wednesday

Blankets distributed in Kokrajhar

27 Jan 2016 - 4:04pm | Hantigiri Narzary
A total of 12,179 blankets were distributed among beneficiaries of Kokrajhar east  at a programme held at Basic Training Centre in Kokrajhar today.  Former minister and Kokrajhar east MLA...

Other Contents by Author

UPP’s manifesto highlights of solving of insurgency problems

With just few days left to the scheduled assembly election, the United People’s Party (UPP) releases its election manifesto highlighting all round development, besides working for peace and tranquility in the region and solving the insurgency problems by pressuring the government to hold talks with insurgency groups like NDFB, ULFA etc. Former Rajya Sabha MP and UPP president, who is also 29-Kokrajhar west LAC candidature Urkhao Gwra Brahma, released the manifesto at the party steering committee office in Kokrajhar on Wednesday which has been promises of all round development besides working for peace and tranquility in the region. Several social issues including women issues also find...

Acharya Shri Mahashraman eyes peace and unity

Shantidoot Acharya Shri Mahashraman, chief of Jainism has clarion called of peace and unity among society is the only to keep sustainable of development and people’s welfare in the world. Acharya Shri Mahashraman, who has footstepped along with his followers and sadhus in Kokrajhar, heart administration of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) in lower Assam, on his part of ‘Ahinsa Yatra’ to spread  peace messages among humans in the world. Acharya stepped in Assam for the first time ever in its Jainism on March 24 through Srirampur of Kokrajhar district after entering West Bengal. Acharya said that building of peace and unity is the prime aim of the Ahinsa Yatra. Peoples’ should keep...

General assembly session preparation

Preparations have got underway to hold the 5th foundation day cum general assembly session of the People's Joint Action Committee for Boroland Movement (PJACBM) at North Kamrup Betbari ME school ground in Baksa district.  Jebraram Mushahary, chief convenor of the committee, addressing the reporters today Prasanti Lodge in Kokrajhar said that the session is organizing on March 30 and 31 with two day programme scheduled to mark the observation of the foundation day of the PJACBM, which is a plateform of separate Bodoland state within Indian territory. He said that the session will discuss about the present status of the Bodoland demand agitation where irrespective of organization,...

Observer training

The training for the Micro Observers appointed for 31- Sidli LAC was held at Chirang  DC office on Monday. Among others, the training was attended by General Observer Priyatu Mandal, Expenditure Observer Joginder Singh and Chirang DC and RO Rupak Kumar Mazumder. Highlighting the guidelines on the role and responsibilities, the DC Mazumder said that Micro Observer is a special job profile created under the guidelines of the ECI and asked all to oversee the overall election process of the polling booths asigned to them and keep in touch with the General ElectionObserver and him. He appealed everyone to be conversant with laws and rules related to election on the day of poll as per the...

Thunderstorm kills 2, injures 4

Two persons killed and four others received serious injured following thunderstorm's hit at various places in Kokrajhar district on Monday morning.  The thunderstorm struck which took place around 8.30 am this morning leaving  two lives lost,  besides injured four persons in different places in Kokrajhar district. The incident took place in different places in  the district which claimed two lives and injured four others.The injures were immediately rushed to Kokrajhar RNB civil hospital.  The casualties were identified as Suddo Daimary, 27, of Bhadrampur and Kishore Basumatary, 20, of Athiabari. The injures have been identified as Odali Narzary(New Sutarpara),...

Election preparation in full swing in Kokrajhar

The different parties and organisations have been become busy in campaigning in support of their candidates in the various districts of the BTAD region including Kokrajhar. BTC executive member Rajib Brahma,BPF leader Narayan Chandra Basumatary hold election campaign at Bheltari village for Kokrajhar east LAC BPF candidate Pramila Rani Brahma on Sunday. Brahma while addressing the well attended meeting said that BPF party has been contesting in all 13 seats of the BTAD alliance with BJP and this time party candidates are winning in all contesting seats.He said that irrespective of caste,creed,languages are supporting the party that is why party’s winning as well government formation at...

Poll campaigns get momentum

With just few days left to the scheduled assembly elections on April 4 and 11 next, campaigning from different parties for their candidates saw more gathered momentum among common voters in the region.  Former minister, sitting MLA and BPF candidate for 31-Sidli LAC Chandan Brahma campaigned in support of his candidature at Simlaguri, Laltari area on Saturday along with alliance partnar AGP MLA Pani Bhusan Choudhury in Kokrajhar district.  Brahma has claimed that he and his party is winning in all 13 contesting seats in the region and government would be formed by BPF, AGP and BJP, no doubt. He said that his party was working for all round development of the common publics....

KLO cadre arrested

Security forces continue its intensying operation in the area ahead assembly election. Another cadre Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) was apprehended today from Harigaon area under Kokrajhar PS. He was identified as Kiren Ray (22) of Balagaon Part-I, who was involved with extortion,arms peddling,kidnapping and logistic spports to the outfit organisation. A pistol, two live bullets was recovered from him.

28 in the fray in BTAD constituencies

Two independent candidates, one each from 28-Gossaigaon LAC and 31-Sidli LAC have withdrawn their nominations today and 28 candidates are in fray from four constituencies of Kokrajhar and Chirang district to contest the scheduled assembly election on April 11 next. Sajal Sigha, independent candidate from Gossaigaon LAC and Tapan Kumar Rabha, independent have withdrawn their nomination papers on the last day of withdrawal today. In 30-Kokrajhar east LAC, six candidates are in fray to contest the election, who are included Pramila Rani Brahma(BPF),Manu Borgoyary(AIUDF),Pratibha Brahma(UPP),Basanta Medhi(Independent),Ajay Kumar Narzary(Independent) and Rajesh Narzary(Independent). In 29-...

Wild elephant kills 1

A 12-years-old youth identified as Som Soren of Santipur Ultapani was died on the spot and another received serious injured following trampled by wild elephant late last night at Ultapani along the Indo-Bhutan border area in Kokrajhar district.  According to villagers, a herd of 4 wild elephants reached the No.2 Santipur village late last night and attacked the villagers where the youth was died on the spot and another received serious injured. The injure was immediately rushed to Kokrajhar RNB civil hospital. He was identified as Kistu Kisku (18) of Santipur.  Sitting MLA and BPF candidate for Kokrajhar east LAC Pramila Rani Brahma visited the spot to take stock of the incident...