An accused witch has been burnt alive in Papua New Guinea after she was accused of killing a neighbor's six-year-old son with sorcery.
The supposed witch, mother aged 20 named Kepari Leniata, was stripped, tied up and doused in gasoline by the boy's relatives in Mount Hagen in the Western Highlands, said the National newspaper.
Media reports that as the mother of 2 screamed for her life, gasoline-soaked tires 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.
Horrendous photos of the accused witch being burnt alive were published on the front pages of Papua New Guinea's biggest circulating newspapers, The National andPost-Courier, while the prime minister, police and diplomats condemned the killing.
A police spokesman said Leniata was accused of sorcery by relatives of a 6-year-old boy who died in the local hospital the day before.
Sorcery has traditionally been countered by sorcery in Papuan New Guinean culture, but responses to sorcery allegations have become increasingly violent in recent years.
Deputy Police Commissioner Simon Kauba on Friday blasted Mount Hagen investigators by phone for failing to make a single arrest, according to the report.
The public were apparently not cooperating with police and police carrying out the investigation were not working hard enough, Kakas said.
"He was very, very disappointed that there's been no arrest made as yet," Kakas said.
"The incident happened in broad daylight in front of hundreds of eyewitnesses and yet we haven't picked up any suspects yet. He was very, very curious about that and he blasted the investigators on the phone," Kakas added.
