Justice Served: 23 Get Life imprisonment for Killing Woman Over Witchcraft in Assam
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on each convict and ordered them to pay Rs 8 lakh in compensation to the victim’s family.
DIBRUGARH- In a landmark verdict, a court in Assam’s Charaideo district sentenced 23 individuals to life imprisonment on May 19, 2025, for the horrific murder of a woman accused of practicing witchcraft 13 years ago.
The Charaideo District and Sessions Judge, Abubakkar Siddique, convicted 12 men and 11 women for the 2012 killing of Phuleshwari Halua in Jalha village, Sonari.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on each convict and ordered them to pay Rs 8 lakh in compensation to the victim’s family.
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The incident, which sparked widespread outrage, saw Phuleshwari Halua subjected to severe physical torture before being set ablaze by a mob driven by superstition.
The prolonged trial, lasting over a decade, underscores the persistent challenge of witch-hunting in Assam, despite the Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Act, 2015, which criminalizes such acts as non-bailable offenses.
Police reports indicate that the victim was targeted based on baseless suspicions of witchcraft, a social malaise that continues to plague tribal and tea plantation communities in the state.
The conviction is seen as a significant step toward justice, though activists argue that more needs to be done to eradicate superstitious beliefs fueling such violence.
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Since 2021, at least 21 women have been killed in Assam on suspicion of practicing witchcraft, highlighting the urgency of addressing this issue.
The court’s ruling has been hailed as a victory for justice after years of legal proceedings, sending a strong message against witch-hunting and mob violence in the region.
