Witch hunting takes away another life in a Udalguri

The recent merciless killing of an elderly helpless widow in Badlapara TE has again exposed the primitive ideas and thoughts prevailing in the minds of illiterate masses of society. Unfortunately,no organizations, including woman organizations had not been seen taking interest to stop this social menace. According to information received, one Magni Daga (75) wife of late Budhua Daga of the village No.1 Sonajuli, near Badlapara TE in Udalguri district was mercilessly beaten to death on the night of June 8. People of the tea garden (belonging to tea garden community) believed her to be a witch performing black magic tricks on the villagers.

DN Hazarika, Circle Officer, Harisinga Revenue Circle, Tangla told this correspondent that villagers had invited the lady to the house of Birsa Munda (45) her son in-law working as a labour in Badlapara TE on June 8. The unsuspecting lady accordingly arrived in her daughters residence in the evening, After an argument with her the villagers took her away by force to a place called 'Tiniali Farm' in the night hours. The angry villagers started beating her mercilessly till her death. Next day her mutilated dead body was found. Her son in-law and daughter filed an FIR at Dimakuchi Police Out-Post on the same day. Circle Officer, Harisinga Revenue Circle; OC Paneri Police Station had visited the spot and ordered postmortem and investigation.

Surprisingly, people of the areas seemed to have taken the matter lightly.A few educated people of the locality told this correspondent that prevailing social customs backed by blind belief and superstition generally forbid people or organizations belonging to other ethnic groups to interfere in such matters,letting such social menace go on unabated causing untold misery to so many families.