Man killed, family tortured
over sorcery allegations
A MAN was chopped to death in his sleep and five of his family members were brutally tortured after being accused of sorcery in remote Yandera village of Madang province, sources in Madang said.
The incident occurred last Wednesday and the five family members of the deceased are still missing after having fled fearing for their lives.
The dead man’s sister was bashed unconscious in front of her two daughters, aged two and five, while on the run from the attackers, one of whom came across the terrorised family the next morning.
The family’s houses and properties were also looted and destroyed.
Madang health administration officer Donald Tore said the missing people were brutally tortured but were afraid to go to the Bundi Health Centre to get treatment.
A source said the man was killed in the night, but his sister managed to escape into the bushes with her daughters, fearing for their lives.
“In the morning, while seeking refuge, they were met by one of the attackers.
“The man smashed the mother’s head with a heavy stick in front of her daughters and she fell down unconscious, lying in a pool of blood,” the source said.
The source said innocent people were being accused of practising witchcraft or sorcery in relation to about six deaths within a period of two weeks.
“Policemen are here but they are outnumbered by the local culprits, and they cannot do much.
“They are only asking the attackers to stop targeting innocent people as there was no evidence of sorcery or witchcraft.
“These attacks have been happening for two weeks and are continuing.
“People are randomly picked up and tortured at any time.
“And the police, along with the local, district and provincial authorities are ignoring the issue,” the source said.
Madang police said they were yet to get a report on the man’s death or on other alleged attacks.
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