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3 families ostracised for practising �witchcraft�

By Correspondent

SHILLONG, Sept 6 - Three families from a remote village in West Jaintia Hills have been ostracised by the Village Dorbar for allegedly practising witchcraft.

Families of Brin Nongrum, Stelin Nongrum and Pherlin Nongrum were ordered to leave their village Bam Kamar by the village headman Reminud Kshiar, threatening them of dire consequences if they stayed. The families were ostracised in April this year, however, the matter was not reported to the police and the three families relocated at Umrukia, West Jaintia Hills district.

�The families did not report the matter to the police at that point of time,� president of Civil Society Women�s Organisation (CSWO), Agnes Kharshiing said. Due to village headman�s diktat 10 minor children were also ostracised.

However, the families owned agricultural land in the village and so they tilled their land. �But the Headman gave a notice to the families on August 26 not to set their foot in the village to plough their fields and further warned to burn everything that belongs to them,� Kharshiing said.

In fact, the Village Dorbar took away all their ginger produce from the agricultural land of these families. The families have now approached the police at Nartiang, but reportedly the police reacted sluggishly.

Reports further say the houses of the families were partly burnt by the villagers. The West Jaintia Hills police are investigating the case. �CSWO demands strong action against the erring Police of Nartiang, and demands immediate arrest of the Village Headman and elders responsible for inciting the ostracisation,� Kharshiing said.

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