When Superstition Turns Deadly: Assam Arrests 20 After Couple Killed in Witchcraft Frenzy
The brutal killing and burning of a couple in Assam’s Karbi Anglong has once again exposed a grim and disturbing reality — that even in the 21st century, parts of India and several regions across the world continue to be gripped by medieval beliefs, where superstition and fear claim human lives.
The victims, Gardi Birowa and Mira Birowa, were murdered on December 30 in No. 1 Beloguri Munda village under the Howraghat area after villagers allegedly branded them as practitioners of “witchcraft”.
Acting on the crime, the Assam Police has so far arrested 20 people, including four women, in connection with the lynching and burning of the couple.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Karbi Anglong police said the investigation is ongoing and assured that every effort is being made to ensure a thorough probe and swift justice.
Authorities described the incident as a case of extreme violence rooted in irrational beliefs and collective hysteria.
Senior officials also visited the village to send a strong message against such practices.
Assam Inspector General of Police (Law & Order) Akhilesh Singh termed witch-hunting an inhuman crime that has no place in a modern society.
He said violence inflicted on individuals by branding them as witches is unacceptable and would be dealt with firmly under the law.
Referring to a recent conviction in a similar case in Sivasagar, Singh said the state is determined to ensure exemplary punishment in this case as well.
A Persistent Shadow of the Past
Despite scientific advancement and legal safeguards, witch-hunting continues to take a human toll not only in parts of India but also in several countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Such crimes are often driven by deep-rooted superstition, social jealousy, land disputes or the targeting of vulnerable individuals, particularly women and elderly couples.
Assam has long struggled with this social evil. Recognizing its gravity, the state enacted the Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Act, 2018, which makes witch-hunting a cognizable and non-bailable offence.
Official records show that 32 cases were registered under the Act between 2022 and 2024, highlighting that the menace persists despite legal deterrence.
Policy Push to End the Practice
In response to continuing incidents, the Assam government earlier this year notified the Assam State Policy to Combat Human Trafficking and End Witch-Hunting, aimed at focused intervention through prevention, rescue, rehabilitation and prosecution.
The policy outlines standard operating procedures for rehabilitating survivors and mandates the identification of vulnerable pockets for targeted awareness campaigns and crime prevention programmes.
Yet, the killings in Karbi Anglong underline a painful truth: laws alone cannot erase centuries-old fears and absurd beliefs.
The battle against witch-hunting is as much about social transformation and education as it is about policing and punishment.
As India aspires to global leadership and scientific progress, such incidents serve as a stark reminder that parts of society remain trapped in a thousand-year-old mindset — where superstition overrides humanity, and ignorance becomes lethal.
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