By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Halorsing Kharumnuid of Maw-U-Tieng, Sohryngkham was assaulted and forced to eat dog’s excreta not because he was practising witchcraft, but a 13-year-old girl, who was suffering from severe epilepsy, was calling out his name in pain.
The parents of the girl, Magdalene Kharumnuid believed that her suffering was due to the witchcraft practised by Halorsing.
The magisterial probe report into the July 31 incident said that no evidence could be provided to prove the allegations of witchcraft against Halorsing by any person of Maw-U-Tieng who had deposed before him nor by any other person or resident of Sohryngkham village”.
The probe was conducted by additional district magistrate DM Wallang.
The copy of the report which is available with The Shillong Times, said that Magdalene, the daughter of Brosswell Pyngrope and Mildred Kharumnuid, had been suffering from epilepsy since she was 5 months old.
“The occurrence of the ‘fits’ was so frequent that she had to drop out from school while she was studying in Class I in Mary Rice School, Laitumkhrah, in early part of 2012. On the advice of the doctors, friends and relatives, Magdalene joined the UP Government School, Mawdieng and presently she is studying in Class II,” the report said.
In July first week, Magdalene was severely hit by a series of fits coupled with high fever which had badly affected her health and she was confined to her residence for more than two weeks, the report said.
“While having high fever, Magdalene used to call out the name of Halorsing. This made the parents, relatives and neighbours believe that she was obsessed with an evil spirit which has been cast by Halorsing,” the report said.
According to the findings, the parents of Magdalene, encouraged by their son Pynkrawbor, other relatives and friends, made Magdalene walk from her house to the residence of the wife of Halorsing at Maw-U-Tieng and even claimed that the girl had walked backwards from her residence to the house of Halorsing.
“It was only on the ground that Magdalene had called out the name of Halorsing that her parents, brother and relatives had gone to pick up Halorsing from Matsang and brought him to the residence of the girl at Maw-U-Tieng,” the report said.
Halorsing was interrogated and forced to admit under pressure from girl’s brother Pynkhrawbor and others that he had cast an evil spell on Magdalene by practising ‘witchcraft’ thus affecting her health for a long time.
Coercion and threat from the family members of Magdalene compelled Halorsing to admit that he had practised ‘witchcraft’ and cast an evil spell on the girl.
Halorsing was forced to say a prayer for the sick girl in the presence of the parents and relatives inside the girl’s house.
“On his admittance, Halorsing was made to consume dog’s faeces which was forcefully thrust inside his mouth by Pynkhrawbor. About a quarter cup of tea was given to him by Pynkhrawbor”, the report said.
It was only after the intervention of some elders of the locality that the girl’s mother Mildred and her family released Halorsing.
Moreover, Mildred and Brosswell did not allow any outsiders to enter their residence while they interrogated Halorsing.
As per the report, it was much later that one Gilberth Mylliempdah and the other village elders including Ialam Kharumnuid, Holain Kharumnuid and Riberius Kharumnuid were allowed to enter the compound and residence of Mildred.
Halorsing was later released only after the intervention of the village elders particularly Riberius Kharumnuid, who is also a cousin brother of Halorsing.
The family of Brosswell made a compromise with Halorsing and released him back to his nephews and other relatives, who were waiting for him outside the compound.
After the incident, the Headman and Secretary, Sohryngkham had intimated the matter to Sohryngkham police outpost on July 31 morning.
Accordingly, the second officer-in- charge, P. Thabah was sent to the village for a spot enquiry but when he reached the village, he was informed that the matter had been settled amicably among the family. Subsequently, the police officials had returned without taking immediate action against Mildred and her family members.
The probe report said that it was only on August 2 that an FIR was filed by the family members of Halorsing against Mildred and others at Sohryngkham police out post.
The report said no evidence was provided by anyone to prove the allegations of witchcraft against Halorsing.
The magistrate in his recommendations said that Mildred Kharumnuid, Brosswell Pynrope, Albinus Mylliemngap, Pynkhrawdor Kharumnuid, Gilbert Mylliempdah, Roni Star Kharumnuid, Sunil Mylliempdah, and Johnny Kharumnuid are guilty of forcefully detaining Halorsing in Mildred’s residence with the intention to cause grievous injury and bodily harm to him. “They should be booked for attempted murder under appropriate sections of law”, the report recommended.
The magistrate also held Pynkhrawbor Kharumnuid, son of Mildred and brother of Magdalene guilty of forcing Halorsing to eat the dog’s faeces. “He should be booked for attempted murder and for causing grievous injury to Halorsing”, the report said.
Moreover, Mildred Kharumnuid and Brosswell Pyngrope are guilty of spreading rumours against Halorsing of practicing ‘witchcraft’ which had led to the assault and humiliation of Halorsing in the hands of Mildred and her family members.
“This is based on the fact that though the parents are fully aware of the illness of their daughter since childhood, they had led the people believe that their daughter had been cast by an evil spell by Halorsing”, the report revealed.
According to the report, the whole incident occurred merely on the grounds of superstitious belief in ‘witchcraft’ not only by Mildred’s family but also by the residents Maw-U-Tieng village.
