Villagers in Aditmari protest 'cheating' by 'spiritual healer'
House besieged, case filed
A woman, introducing herself as a kabiraj (herbal practitioner) and spiritual healer, allegedly cheated people of lakhs of taka at Khatapara Majhar village in Saptibari union of Aditmari upazila under the district during the last one year.
Affected villagers agitated in front of the alleged imposter's rented house in the village yesterday morning, after hearing that the woman secretly went away with the money, gold ornaments and other valuables at night.
Earlier on Tuesday, a cheated woman filed a case with the Judicial Magistrate's Court at Lalmonirhat.
Locals said Minu Begum, 45, wife of Monu Miah of Pathorghata C & B Colony in Chittagong, came to Khatapara Majhar village in Aditmari upazila a year ago. She posed as an expert kabiraj who can treat any disease with spiritual power.
“Minu Begum recruited some informers at the village to collect personal and family information of local people. She made people, especially women, believe her by telling the information and took handsome amount of money, gold ornaments and other things in the name of spiritual healing," said former union parishad (UP) member Nobiar Rahman of Khatapara Majhar village.
Asma Khatun Lucky, 35, wife of Shamsul Haque in the village, said, "Minu Begum visited my house early January this year and told me that our five-year-old twin sons Swadhin Islam and Sohag Islam were under life risk and needed better spiritual treatment. She also correctly stated some of our family matters.
"Minu along with me and the two kids visited a few mazars in Chittagong and Sylhet and took Tk 7 lakh from me in the name of saving my sons' lives by her spiritual power till April this year. Finally I understood that Minu cheated me and filed a case against her with the Judicial Magistrate's Court,” she said.
Shabana Begum, 45, wife of Yasin Ali of the same village, said, "We are a childless couple. Minu Begum visited me in January this year and took Tk 1.5 lakh from me, saying that we will get a baby through her spiritual power. But I am yet to get any result.”
“Minu Begum took about Tk 60 lakh from over a hundred villagers during the last one year. She also built a strong network of drug peddlers in the area. Now she has gone into hiding in the face of villagers' agitation. Necessary legal steps must be taken against the imposter and her gang,” local UP member Mizanur Rahman Mizan said.
Contacted over mobile phone, Minu Begum said, "I did not cheat any villagers. It is true that I know treatment by spiritual power. Now I have come to Chittagong for personal work and I will go back to Khatapara Majhar village by July 20.”
Kobir Miah, owner of Minu's rented house, declined to make any comment regarding the matter.
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