Dibrugarh: A 68-year-old woman was allegedly killed over suspicions of witchcraft in Assam’s Tinsukia district, with a court sending three accused women to judicial custody on Thursday.Dhumri Santhal was allegedly attacked with a machete on Nov 1 in Ultapool Ouguri village under Digboi police station. Villagers reportedly accused her of practising witchcraft or black magic, leading to a violent confrontation.Acting on confidential information, police launched an investigation and arrested three women from the village on Wednesday. They were identified as Buri Santhal (45), wife of Raju Santhal; Simla Majhi (35), wife of Robi Majhi; and Anima Santhal (48), wife of late Mangal Santhal.A case has been registered at Digboi police station under Sections 3(5), 74, 103(2), 217(a) and 283(a) of the BNS, along with relevant provisions of the Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Act, 2015.The accused were sent to judicial custody on Thursday. Further investigation is underway to establish the sequence of events and determine whether others were involved.The incident has renewed concerns over witch-hunting-related violence in Assam, where accusations of witchcraft have been linked to harassment, social ostracisation, assaults and killings, particularly targeting elderly women and other vulnerable members of rural communities.Despite the Assam Witch Hunting Act, 2015, which criminalises witch-hunting and provides for stringent punishment, such incidents continue to be reported in the state.
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