Shillong — Yet another family has been ostracised by a village Dorbar in Meghalaya, in a seemingly land dispute, after alleging the family practised witchcraft.
The mother-daughter duo, Yoris Khongjoh (40) and her nine-year-old daughter, Rikynti Khongjoh was ostracised by the Sankhat village Dorbar at Muktapur, Amlarem Sub-Division near the Indo-Bangladesh border.
The Dorbar, akin to a Panchayat elsewhere in India, passed a diktat in March this year to cut water supply to the victim’s house and further stopped them from travelling in the local transport system.
They also threatened to burn her house.
However, it is learnt that the diktat by the village council is related to a land dispute. Khongjoh bought a piece of land years back which was encroached by one Bless Syrti.
However, when she resisted, Bless approached the Dorbar, after which the allegation of being practitioners of witchcraft was heaped on Khongjoh and her daughter, Assam Tribune reported.
Amlarem sub-divisional magistrate mediated in the case and made peace between the Dorbar and the victim. A peace bond was also signed in April under section 107 CrPC.
However, she didn’t return to her home even after the signing the bond fearing for her safety. But this month when she did so, she was again threatened. “This time some even planned to kill her,” Civil Society of Women’s Organisation (CSWO) Agnes Kharshiing said.
The CSWO said, four men from the village, which included Khongjoh’s estranged husband, Boloi Das threatened to kill her and her daughter. Khongjoh has again filed an FIR at the Muktapur Outpost. The matter is under investigation.
“There is a rise of ostracisation cases in Meghalaya. The authorities must take these cases seriously and tackle the situation with a strong hand. In most cases, women and children are the victims,” Kharshiing stated.