
Audio By Carbonatix
A young mother was tossed screaming on to a pyre of tyres and burned alive after being accused of killing a neighbour's six-year-old son with sorcery.Kepari Leniata, 20, 'confessed' after she was dragged from her hut, stripped naked and tortured with white-hot iron rods.She was then dragged to a local rubbish dump, doused in petrol and, with hands and feet bound, thrown on a fire of burning tyres. As the mother-of-two screamed in agony, more petrol-soaked tyres were thrown on top of her.The horrendous scene took place in in the village of Paiala, in the highlands of Papua New Guinea where many believe that witchcraft exists and sorcery is used to kill enemies.The head bishop of a Lutheran Church located in the district today condemned the killing.‘Sorcery and sorcery-related killings are growing and the government needs to come up with a law to stop such practice,’ David Piso told The National newspaper.‘Many innocent and helpless people have been killed and tortured after being accused of witchcraft, but taking a life is against the teachings of the Bible and the laws of the country,’ he said.The tragedy unfolded after Miss Leniata's young neighbour fell sick on Tuesday morning. He complained of pains in the stomach and chest and was taken to Mt Hagen hospital where he died a few hours later.Relatives of the boy were suspicious that witchcraft was involved in the death and learned that two women had gone into hiding in the jungle.After they were tracked down, the pair admitted they practiced sorcery but had nothing to do with the boy's death. Miss Leniata, they said, was the person responsible.The boy's family went to her hut at 7am on Wednesday, stripped her and dragged her away to torture and death.Police who rushed to the area were turned back by the angry crowd, but were able to drive away with one of the other women while the second has fled.
Papua New Guinean police have launched a murder investigation and are reportedly preparing charges against those responsible.A firetruck which had been called to the scene was chased away by the crowd.Authorities and international diplomats have spoken out against the torching of the young mother, leaves behind two children, the youngest an eight-month-old girl.The country's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has sworn to bring the killers to justice, as he addressed the matter in a statement today.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Upper East records 27 maternal deaths despite 100% antenatal care coverage
3 minutes -
MOONDOOG Technologies presents AI citizen assistant proposal to Communications Minister
7 minutes -
NPP constituency executives’ election will be peaceful – Director of Elections
21 minutes -
23 sanitation offenders convicted as KMA revives ‘Samansaman’ exercise
26 minutes -
Communications Ministry receives DTT Committee report to guide future of Ghana’s digital broadcasting
30 minutes -
Sam George engages UNDP on digital flagship projects, AI and Fintech initiatives
36 minutes -
Identical imported vehicles may attract different duties due to specifications – Customs
40 minutes -
Gov’t confirms payment of Assembly Members’ allowances
43 minutes -
Agriculture Ministry to supply MPs with poultry birds under ‘Nkoko Nkitinkiti’ – Eric Opoku
46 minutes -
Collective action key to tackling financial sector fraud – BoG
49 minutes -
Agbodza rebukes Oti Regional Minister, MDAs over delayed reporting of non-performing contractors
52 minutes -
Tuah-Yeboah lauds passage of Community Service Bill
55 minutes -
Citizens, MMDA to join national general cleaning exercise
58 minutes -
I’ve never authorised sale of lands within Sakumor Ramsar Site – Nungua Mantse
1 hour -
Mahama engages Kwahu Business Forum Advocacy Association
1 hour