Sorcery-related violence rife - 'Sorcery'

[BB-Leo]

http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20071127/tuhome.htm


Sorcery-related violence rife

November 27, 2007

PNG



THREE people are missing, believed dead and four houses burnt down in what authorities believe is a sorcery-related violence in Mumeng area of Morobe Province.
The three are said to be brothers and include a ward councillor.
They were attacked by fellow villagers who accused them of practising sorcery.
According to police in Mumeng, the councillor from Zenag village was held in custody at the Mumeng police station after the villagers laid a complaint alleging he and his brothers were practising sorcery.
But youths from the village went to the police station, dragged the councillor out and took him to the village, where they also rounded up his two brothers and started attacking them.
Mumeng council manager Joe Paru alerted police on the incident and policemen from the Bulolo mobile squad travelled to the area on Saturday to investigate.
But when they got there the villagers told them the three men had disappeared.
The policemen found traces of blood, which led them to believe the three were attacked and may have been killed.
Their houses were also burnt to the ground.
The councillor's wife had also told police her husband had been slashed with knives.
Police searched the village and found home-made guns, ammunition, axes and knifes.
Some 30 men were rounded up and taken to the Bulolo police station for questioning over the incident.