Tezpur, July 20: A 60-year-old woman, who was branded a witch, was dragged out of her house to river Dhuli, half-a-kilometre from her house, and beheaded by villagers in Assam's Sonitpur district this afternoon.

Police sources said Poni Orang, a resident of No. 1 Vimajuli village under Biswanath Chariali police station and a mother of two boys, was accused of practising black magic by the villagers.

The sources said the villagers were instigated by Anima Ronghang, who they regard as a priestess. Anima's husband, Deliram Bey, also regarded as a priest, was involved in the incident too, they alleged.

The sources said when the police went to the spot, the villagers challenged them but the team, led by additional superintendent of police Samad Hussain, disbursed the crowd and recovered the body.

"A case has been registered in connection with the incident at Biswanath Chariali police station and investigations are on," Hussain said.

The superintendent of police, Biswanath Chariali, Manabendra Dev Ray, told The Telegraph that three persons have been arrested and the dao (sharp weapon) used to behead the woman has been recovered. He said the body was recovered in the presence of a magistrate and sent for post-mortem. Those arrested are Deliram Bey, Naren Ronghang and Raju Bey. Anima was not arrested today as she has a two-month-old baby, the police sources said.

Vimajuli is located about 40km from Biswanath Chariali police station, 110km from Tezpur, the headquarters of Sonitpur district, and 290km from Guwahati. It is mostly dominated by Adivasi and Karbi communities. It is near the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border.

The sources said the situation was under control but tension prevailed in the area.

Mangal Bey, the president of All Assam Karbi Students' Association, who hails from Biswanath Chariali, said such incidents were the result of a lack of proper education facilities. He said they would launch an awareness drive at Vimajuli and other remote villages in the area. "We condemn the incident. We will go to the village with the help of the district administration and create awareness among the poor villagers," he said.

Social activist Dibyajyoti Saikia, who has been working to prevent witch-hunting in the state, said unless the education, health and home departments launch a co-ordinated effort, witch-hunting would continue.

"A chapter against superstitious beliefs should be incorporated in the curriculum in every class. The health department should spread awareness on diseases such as liver cirrhosis, tuberculosis and blood pressure in remote areas. Ignorant villagers, unaware of these killer diseases, perceive that people die because of black magic by dainis (witches). A strong anti-witchcraft legislation is the need of the hour," he said.

"Unless the home department sends the draft bill in time for the August 10 Assembly session, this will not be passed and there will be no deterrent to such crimes," he added.

Saikia said he was trying to call the home secretary but there had been no response.

On May 28, a five-year-old was beheaded during Kali Puja at Line No. 8 in Torajuli tea estate near Rangapara town in Sonitpur district.

Sources said a lack of proper education and health facilities were the primary reasons behind witch-hunting. "When people suffer from diseases, instead of going to a doctor, they approach a bez (quack) who misguides them, saying the suffering is the result of witchcraft," a source said.