Ranchi: State govt on Monday informed the Jharkhand high court that steps have been taken for immediate action to help victims accused of practising witchcraft in the state. Govt has launched a helpline, 181, for immediate assistance.
A division bench of Chief Justice MS Ramchandra Rao and Justice Deepak Roshan was hearing a public interest litigation initiated suo motu on the rising incidents of debts caused due to practice of witchcraft in the state.
Govt further informed the court that earlier the helpline was not very active and could not be accessed by all mobile networks. But now the situation has been improved and 181 can be dialled from any network by a victim seeking govt assistance.
The court was also informed that in 2021 in Gumla, five members of a family were hacked to death over suspected witchcraft practice. A child of the family was rescued and has been rehabilitated. tnn
Earlier, govt paid a sum of Rs 2000 per month towards the expenses of the child which has now been increased to Rs 4000 a month and the money had been released in favour of the victim till Oct 2024. The victim at present is residing with a relative.
The court will take up the matter in Feb 2025 again.
An affidavit was also filed by the member secretary, Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority, wherein it has been informed that the highest number of cases of witchcraft practices originate in Gumla district. The Jhalsa has been conducting frequent awareness programmes in remote areas of the district to make people aware and refrain from such heinous practice.