A 56-year-old traditional healer, who was assaulted by a group of people yesterday on the suspicion of practicing witchcraft in Bhaktadaspara village under Kalayanpur police station of Khowai, has been shifted to Agartala Government Medical College in critical condition.
The victim has been identified as Babulal Gour. His son lodged a complaint against the15 accused after the incident. While two men were arrested last night in connection with the crime, 13 accused are stated to be absconding. Police said the victim is responding to the treatment
Due to counting of panchayat vote today, the intensive search operations against the accused persons was not undertaken by police. However, police assured that all the accused would be booked soon.
According to reports, a group of villagers had picked up traditional healer Babulal Gour on July 29 night and thrashed him brutally, suspecting him to be practicing witchcraft. He was somehow able to escape from the gang and reached home. Yesterday, morning again the same group stormed his house and took him away.
“They chopped off my hair and beard in public and tortured and abused me. Later, they compelled me to wear an empty container around my neck and go around the entire Ghilatali market and beat it seeking pardon for my ‘unrevealed mistake’. No one protested their act or came forward to rescue me, except my family members, as those goons belonged to the ruling dispensation,” Gour told the media.
