Female sorcery suspects tortured

FOUR elderly women, including a grandmother, were allegedly tortured and threatened with offensive weapons by their Jika Mukuga tribesmen after accusing them of practising sorcery.
The victims, all from Jiwaka but married to Jika men and living at Keltiga village just outside Mt Hagen city, were tortured by some youths with hot iron rods and metals all over their bodies which resulted in severe burns.
The Mukuga clansmen blamed the defenceless mothers for using supernatural powers to make one of their clansmen man fall sick.
Augustine Kewa, who is also married to a woman from Jiwaka, claimed yesterday that his clansmen burnt two of his houses down together with all their belongings inside, slaughtered his three pigs worth between K500 and K900 and destroyed his food garden.
Kewa said his wife was away when his clansmen caused the damages and attacked the women.
One of the victims’ husbands, Petro Pet, said the four women were attacked for no good reason.
He said his clansmen attacked the women because of a man falling very sick.
Pet said the women had been married into their clan for many years and had children and grandchildren.
He said he had three children with his wife Catherine, their elder daughter is married to a man from Nebilyer and had a child while his second born son was now attending Hagen United primary school while his youngest son was about five years old.
He said since his wife has serious burns all over her body, he is carrying the burden to look after the family.
Pet said a formal complaint was lodge with the Mt Hagen police. 
Metropolitan commander Chief Insp John Kale said yesterday that he was aware of the incident and criminal investigation officers were now investigating the matter.