Drive against witch hunt on tribal turf

BARIPADA:With tribal dominated Mayurbhanj recording the highest number of sorcery-related killings and atrocities in the State, the district police has launched an awareness drive against the social evil.The awareness campaign was held at Kendua village under Shamakhunta block within Baripada Sadar Town police limits on Tuesday.

According to official sources, 98 witchcraft-related cases have been registered in several police stations of the district since January, 2010. Of the 98 cases, 53 resulted in deaths while 45 were of assault.
“Mayurbhanj, the tribal hinterland of the State, is dogged by poverty and illiteracy and has become a hotbed of ritualistic murder. Though it is not easy to root out the practice immediately, regular awareness campaigns will definitely bring positive result,” said Sadar SDPO Abhimanyu Nayak during the drive at Kendua.

Referring to the recent incident in which six women were tied to a tree and beaten up by locals of Madhupur village over sorcery suspicion, the SDPO urged people not to take law into their hands. “Witch hunt is a result of people’s superstition and blind beliefs. There are no witches in real,” he said.
On October 22, a tantrik and six women were mercilessly beaten up by villagers of Madhupur in full public glare over suspicion of witchcraft. All the victims had to be admitted in the hospital. At least seven persons were arrested in this connection.

“Witch hunt is a social evil which needs to be eradicated at the earliest. It results from the blind beliefs of the rural populace. The drive aims to highlight the ill effects of superstition,” said Goutam Kisan, a DSP-ranked officer.

Baripada Sadar IIC Tilottama Rout advised villagers to report any sorcery-related incidents in the local police station if they come to know about it.

Additional Tehsildar of Shamakhunta Sagar Murmu said the major reasons for witch hunting are illiteracy and poor health and economic condition of people. “The law alone cannot weed out of superstition. A mass awareness should be launched to curb such evil practices,” Murmu added.Among others, Zilla Parishad and gram panchayat members, Sarpanch and students of local educational institutions attended the campaign.