Kidnap attempt on survivor of witchcraft attack

TURA: A group of men tried to abduct the daughter of two witch-hunt victims who has demanded a fresh probe into the killing of her parents and other relatives over two years ago.
Ringgat T. Sangma, the daughter of Hallen T. Sangma and Bala T. Sangma, had recently urged the State Government to institute a fresh investigation into the murder of her parents, brother Washing T. Sangma, uncle David Maxiner T. Sangma and grandfather Hedison B. Marak.
The five members of the family were murdered at Mrigre village in January 2015 by a mob for allegedly practising witchcraft and their bodies were secretly disposed of.
Ringgat, who visited Shillong last week, had taken shelter at Waribok village fearing that she could be targeted for her demand.
However, three villagers from Mrigre village came to Waribokgre village and forcibly took her away. They were on their way to Tura when the vehicle was intercepted by an alert police patrol team at Ganol bridge.
Two of the kidnappers, identified as Jackson T. Sangma and Ronjon T. Sangma, were arrested from while the third man escaped.
It is alleged that the Nokma of the village, Lind B. Marak, and his associates have been making attempts to scuttle the fresh investigation. The Nokma, along with four others, was previously arrested for alleged complicity in the murders.
The girl had said the previous investigation did not cover all aspects of the case and also the probe was partial. She is due to submit a petition to DGP S.B Singh this week. Since police had already filed a charge-sheet in the matter, the demand for reinvestigation has been referred for legal opinion and its reply is awaited, said police in Tura.
Some of her clan members, through a letter released on Tuesday, opposed the move and claimed that Ringgat was ‘misled’ by others.
Earlier, a magisterial probe had indicted the villagers for playing a role in the murders and found as untrue that the victims had practised sorcery.