Police rescue women in sorcery case

By LULU MARK
POLICE rescued two women, one the wife of a pastor, from where they were held captive by villagers who had accused them of practicing sorcery on a girl.
Southern Highlands police commander Chief Supt Martin Lakari said police were tipped off that the two women who were sisters were held in a house for five days and questioned by their accusers at Ekaso village, Munihiu local level government in Mendi.
The pastor and his two children were held in a separate place.
Lakari said the two women were accused of practising sorcery on a girl in grade seven who they claimed felt ill after she met them on a road.
He said when the police arrived, the accusers and the grade seven girl fled from the village.
“When we received the information, a police operation was mounted on the village,” he said.
“No arrests have been made and police are interviewing the victims and will effect arrest in due cause.
“The family was moved to another village and are safe for now.”
It was the second such case in the area within a week.
On Aug 1, police went to Tulum village in the Karints local level government after being tipped off that three women accused of sorcery were forced to admit they had caused the death of a young man.
“These are incidence that come to the police attention mainly through social media,” he said.