Family attacked on suspicion of practising witchcraft
JOWAI: Yet again, a fresh case of killing of people in the name practicing witchcraft has been reported from East Jaintia Hills where two people were killed by a group of more than 15 persons at Umkyrpong village under Sumer Patorship on Sunday evening.
The deceased have been identified as Nes Salahe (45) and his younger sister, Desment Salahe (42).
Two others were injured when their family was brutally attacked by the group.
The incident took place at around 5:30 pm on Sunday. Police later rescued the rest of the family ) members.
Meanwhile, East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. The probe will be headed by RS Manner, ADM.
Police, meanwhile, brought both the bodies of the deceased along with all members of the victim’s family to Khliehriat on Monday morning.
Narrating the incident, Priwes Salahe and Ribhamiki Salahe, both brother and sister of the deceased, informed that they were attacked by a group of 10 to 15 people led by Shngain Lamare, Marbud Iakai and Boin Paslein all of Umkyrpong village along with their accomplices.
Ribhamiki who was also injured in the incident said that her elder sister, Desment Salahe came to her residence with her one year old grandson along with the child’s mother Kylluidmiki Salahe.
“We were sitting on the verandah, when a group of people armed with guns and ‘daos’ attacked us,” said Kylluidmiki. First, Desment Salahe, the mother of Kylluidmiki was killed with daos by the attackers after she was dragged out from the house.
“I saw them chasing my eldest brother (Nes). He tried to run for his life, but they shot him with a gun and he fell down on the ground where they killed him,” Rubhamiki said. Ribhamiki also informed the problem started when one Sawan Paslein, wife of Shngain Lamare, was attacked by a disease similar to epilepsy. That time it was alleged that she was having some evil spirit (Taro) and blamed the Salahe family for this.
Hundreds of villagers from Umkyrpong,who came along with the bodies of the victims to Khliehriat police station informed that last month, Shngain Lamare, Boin Paslein and Marbud Iakai came to the house of the Rangbah Shnong, Kyrshan Tangliang at night to seek permission to eliminate the entire Salahe family but, the Rangbah Shnong,refused to grant them permission.
A week later, there was a move to replace the Rangbah Shnong . As planned, Koling Lamare (54) was elected as the new Rangbah Shnong. It was after the new headman was elected, the family was attacked. Both Koling Lamare and Salin Tangliang (the village Secretary) were detained by police.
They were later released on personal bond. Police said they were the prime witnesses of the incident.
Meanwhile, a complaint was lodged with the police at Saipung.