Shillong, Jan 18: As Meghalaya from time and again has seen a number of lynching and thrashing cases over suspicion of ‘menshohnoh’ (people who are believed to be the persons hired by a certain clan or family which offers a human sacrifice to evil spirits in the form of U Thlen for economic prosperity).

Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong stresses on the need to formulate to end this. Releasing two books “Menshohnoh” and “Ka Rngiew” at a function held at the Lawmali dorbar hall, Tynsong said that the State government has a desire to formulate a law to end superstitious belief of the Khasi Community particularly branding people as ‘Menshohnoh.’

The books were authored by Michael Jyrwa, who is a teacher by profession. Menshohnoh (witchcraft) and Rngiew (aura) are associated with the Khasi beliefs.

The author however highlighted how innocent lives are lost due to abhorrent incidents of violence perpetrated on suspicion of practicing Menshohnoh.

“Except for the Khasis, no other communities have such dark beliefs about the existence of the Menshohnoh and thlen. Such superstitious beliefs and words should be erased from the dictionary including other such superstitious beliefs and words like the Taro, Ai bih, and others,” the Deputy Chief Minister said addressing at the function.

Congratulating the author, the deputy chief minister said that the state government is also pursuing with the Centre for the inclusion of the Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India.

Also present at the function were Sohra legislator Gavin M Mylliem and other dignitaries.