Police arrest 16 persons
Nongpoh: A thirty-two-year-old man succumbed to his injuries at Kyrdem PHC after he was brutally assaulted by a mob at Klew Lum village in Ri Bhoi on Tuesday. The victim was found in a nearby jungle in an unconscious state.
He was identified as Mangkara Khymdeit who worked as a muster roll at the PWD office at Bhoirymbong Sub-Division. According to information received, the victim was accused of withcraft.
As many as sixteen persons, including the headman, village leaders and others were arrested by the police. As per sources from the police, Khymdeit along with his co-worker Dominic Syngkli, after completing their day maintenance work of a road on Tuesday evening, parted ways to proceed home. But later around 7 pm, Syngkli received information that the 32-year-old did not reach home and was suspected to have been kidnapped from Klew village.
There was a search for Khymdeit but he could not be traced. On Wednesday, Dominic rushed back to Klew village to enquire. But to his dismay, the villagers came out with their rifles and threatened him.
The villagers accused him of practicing witchcraft (menshohnoh) after which he reported the matter to the in-charge of Umroi PIC.
The in-charge of Umroi PIC rushed to the village and conducted a search to trace the missing person. He was found lying unconscious in a nearby jungle.
The victim was immediately rushed to Kyrdem PHC for treatment and medical attention but later succumbed to his injuries.
In this connection, the brother of the victim has lodged an FIR at Umiam police station against those involved in the crime.
