Assam Unidentified dead body Guwahati Panikhaiti
Representative image.

A woman of Teok Bonai Gaon under Teok PS in Jorhat district died after being treated for her ailment by a quack (bej).

The quack reportedly tortured the woman in the name of treatment.

This comes close on the heels of police rescuing two women of Hooloonguri tea garden in Mariani in the district being branded as witches on Friday night.

A police source said Jyotirupa Dutta (40), a housewife, was allegedly beaten with a stick by Robin Tamuly, a quack at his residence in Rajakhat Jyotinagar area for 3 days in the name of curing her.

On Monday afternoon, Jyotirupa died due to the alleged continued beating, following which the people of the locality created a hue and cry and informed the police, the source said.

Sensing trouble, Tamuly fled from his residence as police arrived and prevented the crowd from turning violent.

Pulibor Police Station officer-in-charge Mintu Handique said on Tuesday that police were searching for Tamuly as he was wanted for questioning but he had not been found as yet.

Handique further said he had asked the family of the deceased to lodge an FIR with the police station against Tamuly, but they are yet to do so.

The officer-in-charge added that police were taking this seriously and that the police would on its own lodge an FIR suo moto if the family members do not lodge a formal complaint.

The police officer said they would initiate action against the quack and anyone found to be involved in the incident.

Handique urged people not to get involved in practicing superstitious beliefs and go to quacks to cure their medical ailments as anybody found to be involved in such acts could be booked under the law.

Smita Bhattacharyya is Northeast Now Correspondent in Jorhat. She can be reached at: [email protected]