Summary:
The complainants alleged that the accused branded them as witches, beat them, fined them and banished them from the village. The couple fled from the village but have now reportedly returned following the arrests made on Friday and Saturday. They were picked up on Friday and Saturday by Bokolia Police.The arrests were made on basis of complaints lodged in September by a couple from Klordung village under Bokolia police station. GUWAHATI: Six persons were arrested in East Karbi Anglong on charge of abetting witch hunting under the Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Act (AWHPPA), 2015, in what is one of the first cases to be booked under the law since it was enacted in June this year.The six persons booked under AWHPPA have been identified as Rochendra Marak (57), Agen Sangma (65), Anthurel Marak (28), Gobin Terang (36), Pradip Tirkey (38) and Thusoard Sangma (46). "We booked the accused both under the AWHPPA and also IPC," Bokolia police station OC Kuleshjyoti Bhuyan said.The AWHPPA, which got the President's assent on June 13 and of which a gazette notification was issued by the government on June 29, imposes maximum imprisonment up to seven years and maximum fine up to Rs 5,00,000 for branding someone as witch..