Nokma ‘terrorizing’ villagers in the name of witchcraft

SHILLONG: With the traditional head, also known as the Nokma in Garo Hills, terrorizing two residents of West Garo Hills in the name of witchcraft, the affected persons have sought police intervention following large scale destruction of their properties.
According to police, one Nojen B Marak of Rongbakgre village, West Garo Hills, lodged a complaint on Monday that on February 3, one Jonen R Marak, Nokma, along with his accomplices (all being residents of Rongbakgre village), alleged him of practicing witchcraft, burnt down five houses and damaged his property amounting to rupees thirty to forty lakh and cash worth rupees eight lakh.
They also destroyed his rubber/ betel nut plantations and threatened him and his family members with dire consequences.
Earlier, one Napak A Sangma of the same village lodged a complaint that recently the Nokma Jonen R Marak along with his accomplices ( again all being residents of Rongbakgre village) armed with lethal weapons, alleged him and his family members of practicing witchcraft, attempted to burn his house while also making an attempt to murder him.  They also took away rupees fifty thousand, one gun license and also threatened the complainant with dire consequences.