Assam Witchcraft Killing: Couple Burned Alive in Karbi Anglong as Mob Justice Claims Another Life

Assam: Couple killed as mob torches home over witchcraft suspicion; probe launched

In the quiet hills of Karbi Anglong, Assam, a horrific tragedy has once again laid bare the dark underbelly of superstition in modern India. A middle-aged couple was brutally assaulted and then burned alive when a frenzied mob set their home on fire—all because of baseless accusations of witchcraft. The incident, which occurred in late December 2025, has sent shockwaves across the nation and prompted urgent calls for stronger enforcement of anti-witch-hunting laws. This is not an isolated case; it’s a grim reminder that in parts of rural India, fear and ignorance still wield deadly power.

Table of Contents

The Karbi Anglong Tragedy: What Happened?

According to preliminary police reports, the incident unfolded in a remote village in Karbi Anglong district. Local villagers, allegedly influenced by a self-proclaimed “faith healer” or ojha, began accusing the couple of practicing black magic after a series of unexplained illnesses struck the community .

On the night of the attack, a mob gathered outside their home, hurling stones and verbal abuse. The couple was dragged out, beaten, and then locked inside their thatched hut before it was set ablaze. Despite desperate screams, no one intervened. By the time police arrived, it was too late—both victims had perished in the flames .

Assam Police have since arrested five individuals, including the alleged instigator, and launched a full investigation under charges of murder, arson, and unlawful assembly.

Assam Witchcraft Killing: A Pattern of Violence

This Assam witchcraft killing is tragically not an anomaly. Northeast India—particularly Assam, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha—has long been a hotspot for witch-hunting. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), over 2,500 people (mostly women) were killed in witchcraft-related violence between 2008 and 2022 .

In Assam alone, at least 12 such murders have been reported since 2020. Victims are often elderly women, widows, or those who own land—making them easy targets for neighbors seeking to seize property under the guise of spiritual cleansing.

Why Witchcraft Accusations Persist in Rural India

Several interconnected factors fuel this barbaric practice:

  1. Lack of Education: In remote tribal areas, scientific explanations for illness or misfortune are often absent, leaving room for supernatural beliefs.
  2. Economic Exploitation: Accusations are frequently used to dispossess vulnerable individuals of their land or assets.
  3. Cultural Entrenchment: Witchcraft beliefs are deeply woven into local folklore and are perpetuated by traditional healers who profit from fear.
  4. Weak Law Enforcement: Police in remote areas are often understaffed, under-resourced, or themselves influenced by local superstitions.

As one Assam-based social worker noted, “For many villagers, a witch is the easiest explanation for everything they don’t understand” [INTERNAL_LINK:superstition-and-rural-india].

India does have legal safeguards. Assam passed the Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Act in 2015, which prescribes life imprisonment for causing death through witch-hunting . Similar laws exist in Jharkhand, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh.

However, enforcement remains weak. Conviction rates are abysmally low due to:

  • Lack of witness cooperation (fear of reprisal)
  • Poor forensic and investigative capacity in rural police stations
  • Social stigma that discourages victims’ families from reporting

Nationally, there is no central anti-witch-hunting law—a gap activists have been urging Parliament to fill for over a decade.

Response from Authorities and Human Rights Groups

Following the Karbi Anglong incident, the Assam Chief Minister condemned the “barbaric act” and ordered a fast-track investigation . The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also issued a notice to the state government, demanding a detailed report within four weeks.

Human rights organizations like Amnesty International India and PUCL have called for:

  • Immediate protection for at-risk individuals in the region
  • Mandatory sensitization programs for police and village councils
  • A nationwide anti-witch-hunting legislation

Combating Superstition: Education and Empowerment

Long-term solutions must go beyond policing. NGOs in Assam are working with tribal councils to:

  • Integrate scientific temper into school curricula
  • Train community health workers to address illness without invoking witchcraft
  • Empower women through microfinance and legal literacy programs

As one grassroots campaign slogan states: “Knowledge is the best exorcism.”

Conclusion: Breaking the Cycle of Fear

The Assam witchcraft killing in Karbi Anglong is a national shame. It reflects a failure not just of law enforcement, but of our collective responsibility to eradicate blind faith and protect the most vulnerable. While arrests and investigations are necessary, they are not enough. India must confront the toxic mix of poverty, patriarchy, and superstition that enables such horrors. Only then can we ensure that no more lives are lost to the ghost of witchcraft in the 21st century.

Sources

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