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

Science Congress winners felicitated

3 Nov 2015 - 5:49pm | Hantigiri Narzary
Student and teaching staff of the Sakti Ashram Higher Secondary & Vocational School felicitated Shibam Debnath and his group, who were selected to participate in the National Children Science...

Youth for Social Development conclave held

14 Nov 2016 - 10:04am | AT News
A two-day 'State Level Conclave with Student Organizations on 'Youth and Social Development' began from November 12 in Guwahati. Organized by the Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights...

Journalists observe R-Day in Guwahati Press Club

26 Jan 2014 - 6:20pm | AT News
In yet another repeat performance, journalists on Sunday defied militant diktat and celebrated the 65th Republic Day in Guwahati Press Club premises. A group of other citizens, including children,...

Two killed in road mishap at Diyungmukh

27 Apr 2013 - 7:22pm | Anup Biswas
One Surajit Bathari aged 27 died on the spot in a bike accident at Block Bazar, near Diyungmukh in Dima Hasao at about 4 pm on Saturday while Langkhao Phonglo who was seriously injured in the...

Other Contents by Author

Pramod Boro takes oath as BTC CEM

Kokrajhar: UPPL chief Pramod Boro took oath as BTC Chief Executive Member along with 4 others as his executive member—2 from BJP and one from GSP on Monday. Chief Secretary Jishnu Baruah administered them oath of office and secrecy at a crowded rally at the Green Field in Kokrajhar where Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, a few of his cabinet ministers, state BJP president Ranjit Das and Tripura minister J Jamatiya. Govinda Basumatary from UPPL took oath as Deputy CEM while Diganta Baruah and Gautam Das from BJP and Ghanashyam Das from GSP took the oath as Executive Members.       

Hagrama wants BJP's support

Kokrajhar: BPF chief Hagrama Mohilary has urged BJP leadership to help his party retain BTC hours after his party fell short of numbers. Mohilary told newsmen that they are still with BJP-led coalition which needs to be retain. His statement assumes significance when BJP, UPPL, GSP are finalizing the BTC minus BPF.

GSP supports UPPL-BJP coalition

Kokrajhar: Ganasakti Party has also come in support of UPPL-BJP coalition to form BTC since ruling BPF fell short of 3 seats at the end of the poll counting on Sunday we hours. State BJP president Ranjit Das,  senior BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma, BJP general secretary Dilip Saikia, UPPL chief Pramod Boro and GSP chief Nabo Sarania met early in the morning in Dispur and finalised the entire deal.  This could formally end the BPF's alliance with BJP where 3 ministers might resign in a day or two. Notably, BPF emerged the single largest party with 17 seats, UPPL got 12, BJP 9, 1 seat each for GSP and Congress. AIUDF drew blank.

BJP, UPPL set to bid BPF farewell from BTR

Kokrajhar: The political landscape is set to undergo a sea change 5months ahead of assembly polls. UPPL and BJP are set to form BTC since BPF has failed to reach the magic mark of 21 in the polls where counting ended midnight. Even after the ruling party could not touch the magic mark, it emerged the largest party with 18 seats---falling short of 3 seats. On the other hand resurgent UPPL has won 12 seats and is holding talks with BJP to form the council which got 9 seats. Congress and AIUDF could not open the account while Gana Sakti Party had to remain satisfied with just a single seat.

BPF losing at the hands of UPPL and BJP

Kokrajhar: The Boro Peoples’ Front is decimated in Boroland Territorial Region where BTC poll counting took place on Saturday. The ruling party is losing at the hands of the resurgent UPPL and BJP, which ironically is BPF’s main coalition ally.   UPPL is taking a huge lead and is going to form the BTC with Pramod Boro in the helm while BJP is just waiting to severe its 5 years alliance. According to the trend, UPPL and BJP will form the council while BPF would be thrown to the opposition. The counting took place from 8 in the morning.   

Brisk BTC polling in Kokrajhar

Kokrajhar: Around 6.9 voters in Kokrajhar district are exercise their franchise in the second phase of BTC polls on Friday. The district has 19 constituencies where 77 candidates are in the fray. According to the authorities security forces are heavily guarding the every single booth firmly deal with the possible incidents of rigging and booth capturing. The polling is so far peaceful.   The first phase of the polls in Udalguri and Baksa districts saw a polling turnout of 77. The counting will take place on December 12.

Peaceful BTC polling in Chirang

Baksa: A brisk polling is underway in Kokrajhar and Chirang districts of BTR in the final phase of BTC polls on Thursday. Amid tight security and COVID19 protocol, the voters in Chirang district are waiting in long queue in front of the polling booths from 7 in the morning. Around 3.68 lakh voters are deciding on the fate of 34 candidates and the most of the seats have witnessed tight triangular contest of BPF, BJP and resurgent UPPL. The first phase of the polls in Udalguri and Baksa districts saw a polling turnout of 77. The counting will take place on December 12.

School reopening in the state

KOKRAJHAR: Schools have reopened from Monday after six months in Kokrajhar, heart of BTAD administration. On the opening day, attendance of the students are seen very thin in the schools. Students are allowed to enter the schools after having NOC from parents, wearing masks and hands sanitized. Thermal checking was compulsory. A strict initiative from health and education departments have been arranged in the school entry gate. According to source, there are only 35 thermal scanner were used out of the required 93 in the schools across the district. Inspector of School, Kokrajhar Jagadish Prasad Brahma informed that necessary steps have been made as per the guidelines reached by...

BTC illegal appointment: Transport department terminates 29 employees

KOKRAJHAR: Amidst the ongoing Governor's Rule in Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), 29 employees of Transport department have been terminated on Friday(7th August, 2020) from their jobs by BTC Secretariat who were allegedly illegally appointed without any interview or examinations during the BPF ruled BTC administration in the council. Among the terminated employees, 8 are assistant enforcement inspectors and 21 enforcement checkers under the Transport Department of BTC administration. The employees were appointed in a notification BTC Transport department, vide notification no. JCT/BTC/36/2020/1192(A), dated 05-03-2020 and JPC/BTC/36/2020/1190(A) dated 05-03-2020, had made...

Diversion of Gongia river initiated to check flood

KOKRAJHAR: A Bathow puja was offered to Ganga goddess to get rid of protection from flood and erosion hit at Sikarbil village along the Gongia River in Kokrajhar district on Tuesday.  Villagers from greater Sikarbil area under Dotma revenue circle have come out to be part of the offering Puja to the almighty God at the Gongia Riverbank. The Puja was organized to worship the goddess Ganga as local MLA from Kokrajhar West constituency Rabiram Narzary initiated river channel to divert the Gongia River to control the erosion site along with the Sikarbil village. At-least 28 families have been eroded due to floodwaters erosion of Gongia River and forced them to be homeless...