TURA: A man who was brutally murdered and was dumped next to a stream near Tura is suspected to have been a victim of a witch-hunt.
The elderly man, Pobingson Sangma (65) of Boldorenggre, was abducted by unidentified persons on the night of July 13 and his body was found by the river at Makalgonchu village.
However, with no criminal cases or enmity against him, police have been looking at all angles to the murder mystery. Police sources informed investigation into the case revealed that the deceased was a village medicine man who used to provide traditional herbal treatment to patients who came seeking his help. It is alleged that in recent times, there had been some deaths in the village and the finger of suspicion is believed to have pointed at him and his failed treatment.
“We are not ruling out any angle since our investigations are continuing. But we do know that the deceased used to provide some traditional treatment in the village. We are hopeful of arresting the culprits soon,” said West Garo Hills Superintendent of Police, MGR Kumar.
Killings on the pretext of sorcery or witch purges have long plagued the Garo Hills region. In most cases, enmity with victims and greed for property has been the angle.
The most gruesome case in recent memory was that of Mrigre murders near Tura in January 2016 where an entire family of five, including a school teacher and his parents were brutally murdered and their bodies buried in a single shallow grave outside the village.
