Tribal family evicted for practicing witchcraft

Agartala, Aug 2: A backward tribal family in Gandacherra sub-division under Dhalai district of North has been ousted from the village allegedly for practicing witchcraft.

The victim's family had lodged a ccomplaint against five of their neighbours but no arrests were made. The family is still not allowed to return.

According to a report, the villagers had issued a notice to one Fagunti Reang’s family in remote Santajoypara hamlet allegedly for practicing witchcraft that resulted in several sudden deaths in the village in a week, police said.

Fagunti’s family had initially lodged a complaint with the community chief Rupjoy Reang over the harassment and after two phases of community hearing under customary practices, the family was acquitted from the blame.

However, with another death in last week the angry villagers attacked Fagunti’s house and had threatened the family to leave the place, alleged Fagunti’s husband Muktaram Reang.

Finally, Fagunti left home and hearth along with her husband two daughters and took shelter near Ganganagar police station.

''We do not have the provision of a square male here and have been leading a miserable life,'' Muktaram rued.

This is the fifth incident of witchcraft haunting in Tripura in past seven months.