The Dorbar Shnong Saba has today clarified that it could not detect the persons involved in the recent torching of a house belonging to a family accused of practicing witchcraft.
Saba is a village under Shiliang Myntang Elaka of West Jaiñtia Hills.
In a statement issued today, Waheh Shnong of Saba, Andreas Suchiang and Secretary Shnong Ewanmi Lathong said that Nijanduh Phawa who was accused of practicing witchcraft had been asked to leave the village on May 15 after six children from the village fell ill since March 14.
“Of the six children, three of them went to the house of Phawa and said that they got Taro (sickness) from her,” the Dorbar Shnong said.
Stating that a ritual was conducted by Phawa for recovery of the sick children on May 12 but they did not recover.
“On May 15 one girl from the village fell sick and ran towards the house of Phawa. The villagers also followed the girl. The girl declared that she got sick because of the spell cast by Phawa,” the Dorbar Shnong said.
The Dorbar Shnong also said that leaders of Phawa clan along with local villagers urged the woman to leave the village in order to avoid any law and order problem and that she would be allowed to return after rituals were done.
“On May 15 the house of Phawa was torched and on the next day the leaders of the village visited the spot. We tried to find out the persons involved in the arson but we could not trace the culprits. On May 16, Phawa and her husband Nicholas Nartiang lodged an FIR at Nartiang police station on the incident,” the Dorbar Shnong said.
