Mob slays alleged shaman

Mob slays alleged shaman

CILACAP, Central Java: A crowd beat Karmiat, 70, a resident of
Cisalak village in Cimanggu district here, to death on Tuesday
night for allegedly practicing black magic.

Witnesses said some 100 people broke into Karmiat's house at
about 10 p.m. and dragged him outside before killing the old man.

Karmiat's son Suradi told the police another black magic
practitioner, Sukriyo, joined the mob in an effort to deflect
attention from him. Suradi said Sukriyo let the crowd beat his
father.

Banyumas Police chief Col. Carel Rissakota regretted the
incident which brought the death toll in mob attacks on alleged
black magic practitioners to 13 in the past three months.

He said 32 people were questioned in the various cases.

"Our preliminary investigation shows this is a case of
competition and revenge between shamans," Carel said. (45/edt)