From Our Correspondent
JOWAI: Unidentified miscreants hurled an explosive, believed to be a detonator, on the house of one Bhasi Langbang of Priang village near Iooksi in Jaintia Hills district, whose family is alleged to be involved in practicing witchcraft (Nong-ai Taro). The incident occurred at around 1:30 am on Saturday morning.
The house was partially burnt but none of the family members, who were sleeping inside the house at the time of the attack, were injured. While narrating the incident, Langbang informed that his family had been accused of practicing witchcraft by the villagers. “They alleged that we were practicing witchcraft and they came to attack our house last night,” informed a member of the family. “Whenever anyone in the village falls sick, the villagers blame it on us,” he added.
Langbang also informed that at around 8:30 pm on Friday, the Rangbah Shnong of the village, Just Supuh, had visited their house and asked them to leave the village at once.
“The Rangbah Shnong came to inform us that the Dorbar Shnong had decided to expel us from the village and asked us to leave immediately,” Langbang informed.
He further informed that about half an hour later, four villagers came to their house and threatened them with dire consequences if they stayed in the village.
The affected family members informed the police soon after the incident and a formal written complaint was lodged on Saturday morning with the Jowai Police.
Police rushed to the spot and conducted an inquiry but no arrests have been made so far.