Assam, December 31, 2025: A brutal act of mob violence driven by superstition has shaken Assam’s Karbi Anglong district, where a husband and wife were hacked and burnt alive after being accused of practising witchcraft.
The incident took place on December 30 at No. 1 Belguri (Beloguri) Munda village under the Howraghat area. The victims were identified as Gardi Birua (43) and Mira Birua (33). According to preliminary accounts, a group of villagers blamed the couple for repeated illnesses in the locality, branding them as practitioners of black magic.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the mob, armed with sticks, iron rods and sharp weapons, stormed the couple’s house and assaulted them brutally. After inflicting fatal injuries, the attackers allegedly set the house on fire, burning the couple alive. Their bodies were later found reduced to ashes.
The chilling nature of the crime came to light when some villagers reportedly told media persons, “Yes, we have killed them; our people have burnt them,” underscoring the collective nature of the attack.
Police officials reached the spot soon after receiving information and launched an investigation. Senior officers, including the Superintendent of Police, along with a Magistrate from Diphu, visited the village on Wednesday to conduct an on-spot inquiry. While no arrests had been reported at the time of filing this report, police sources confirmed that efforts are underway to identify and apprehend all those involved.
“The assailants first attacked the couple inside their house and then set it on fire. They were accused of witchcraft. We have initiated a detailed probe and will take strict action against everyone responsible,” a police official said.
The incident has triggered fear and tension in the area, prompting the deployment of additional security forces to maintain law and order. The killing has once again highlighted the deadly consequences of blind faith and superstition, even in an age marked by scientific advancement.
Authorities have appealed for calm and assured that justice will be delivered, reiterating that superstition cannot be allowed to justify such inhuman acts.
