Published: Thursday, June 12, 2008
Indian family killed by villagers for 'witchcraft'
GAUHATI, India -- Four members of a family were killed by angry villagers who accused them of practicing witchcraft in India's remote northeast, police and area residents said Wednesday.
The accusations began when a villager died last week after consuming herbal medication given to him by the family, which practiced traditional medicine, said Bhaben Kumar, a neighbor in Koilajuli village, 160 miles northeast of Gauhati, the capital of Assam state.
Several local residents invited the man, his wife, son and daughter-in-law to a village gathering Tuesday, where they were beaten with sticks and pelted with stones until they fell unconscious, Kumar said.
The four were then dumped into a pit and covered with mud, police said.
Many people continue to believe in black magic and dozens of people are beaten or killed every year for practicing witchcraft.
The accusations began when a villager died last week after consuming herbal medication given to him by the family, which practiced traditional medicine, said Bhaben Kumar, a neighbor in Koilajuli village, 160 miles northeast of Gauhati, the capital of Assam state.
Several local residents invited the man, his wife, son and daughter-in-law to a village gathering Tuesday, where they were beaten with sticks and pelted with stones until they fell unconscious, Kumar said.
The four were then dumped into a pit and covered with mud, police said.
Many people continue to believe in black magic and dozens of people are beaten or killed every year for practicing witchcraft.
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