Woman tied to pole and beaten over witch suspicion in Assam's Nalbari; six detained

A woman was brutally assaulted after being tied to a pole on suspicion of practising witchcraft at Mukalmua weekly market in Assam’s Nalbari district.

 

Police said the victim, identified as Suburi Begum from Khopnikuchi in Hajo, is mentally unstable and survives by begging at markets in search of food. She was allegedly attacked by a group of people who accused her of being a witch.

 

According to police, the accused tied Begum to a pole and assaulted her with sticks while also kicking and punching her repeatedly. The attack left her with severe injuries across her body.

 

A police team later rescued the woman and rushed her to Mukalmua Sub-Divisional Civil Hospital. As her condition worsened, doctors referred her to Nalbari Medical College and Hospital for advanced treatment. Hospital sources said she remains in critical condition and is battling for her life.

 

The incident occurred at the Mukalmua weekly market under the Barkhetri subdivision.

 

Mukalmua Police have detained six persons in connection with the assault. The detainees have been identified as Sahjahan Ali, Malek Dewan, Shahidul Islam, Mukuta Rahman, Mariam Bibi and Maidul Haque.

 

Police registered a case under Mukalmua Police Station Case No. 32/26 under Sections 189(2), 117(4), 118(2), 76 and 109(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

 

The investigation is being led by Sub-Inspector Anirban Rahang, and further interrogation of the detained persons is underway to establish more details surrounding the incident.