22 Sep 2017

Church reports sorcery related violence in PNG

7:58 pm on 22 September 2017

The Lutheran church in Papua New Guinea says there have been at least 12 sorcery related attacks on women in Enga province this year.

Remains of a young mother killed after being accused of sorcery in Mount Hagen city in the Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea.

Remains of a young mother killed after being accused of sorcery in Mount Hagen city in the Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Photo: AFP / Post Courier

Missionary Anton Lutz told the National the latest attacks on Saturday at Pompabus in Wapenamenda district left one woman dead and another with serious injuries after they were burned with hot irons and cut with razors.

Mr Lutz said five women were attacked in May on the same day in Sirunki, a week after three women were murdered in the same town.

In Saturday's incident, the two women were blamed for causing the death of a three-year-old.

Enga provincial police commander George Kakas said a post-mortem showed the child had died after choking on a piece of kau kau, or sweet potato.