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Witch’ killings on in Jharkhand India
Hindustan Times ^
| Jamshedpur, July 5
| B Vijay Murty
Posted on 07/04/2003 9:03:47 PM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
Two women were burnt alive in Godda earlier this week on the orders of the village panchayat. The next evening, a 65-year-old woman was killed in neighbouring Gumla district. Their fault: They were believed to be witches. But these two incidents are just the tip of the iceberg.
Perpetrated by ojhas (witch doctors), such killings have suddenly shot up in Jharkhand. Officially, more than 30 'witches', mostly tribals, have been killed, while NGOs working in the area say the figure could be 60 or higher.
The state had, in 2001, adopted the Prevention of Witchcraft Act to curb the menace. But the law enforcement agencies have little knowledge about the law, so it is hardly ever implemented.
Free Legal Aid Committee, an NGO that has been spearheading the witchcraft prevention movement since 1991, has demanded an anti-witchcraft awareness decade.
The NGO's chairman, Premchand, says: "In most of the cases, it's either for sexual desires of the Ojha, if the victim is young lady, or for land and property, in the case of an elderly woman, that such crimes are committed. Therefore, in order to eliminate this superstitious practice the government besides imposing strict measures against the Ojhas also needs to come up with a package for their rehabilitation."
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government
KEYWORDS:
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I assume the Panchayat is a government official.
To: DeaconBenjamin
We have found a witch; may we burn her?
2
posted on
07/04/2003 9:09:15 PM PDT
by
pbear8
( sed libera nos a malo)
To: DeaconBenjamin
Horrific. Witch burnings also take place in some parts of Africa, to this day.
3
posted on
07/04/2003 9:13:13 PM PDT
by
BlackVeil
To: DeaconBenjamin; Willie Green; harpseal
Do you think that any H1B visa holders from India will find any witches to burn in the USA...??????
Hey, wait there is that certain sinator from a NORTHERN state.... she just wrote her book of vile formulas and lies, as I recall.
4
posted on
07/04/2003 9:14:05 PM PDT
by
crazykatz
To: pbear8
I know who you are talking about.....
throw her crusty pant suit into the village pond and see if it floats........A WITCH, A WITCH !!!
It takes a village eh!
5
posted on
07/04/2003 9:15:52 PM PDT
by
tet68
To: DeaconBenjamin
I assume the Panchayat is a government official.Close. Panchayats are village councils or governing bodies.
6
posted on
07/04/2003 9:17:55 PM PDT
by
dighton
(NLC™)
To: tet68
BTTT
7
posted on
07/04/2003 9:28:05 PM PDT
by
crazykatz
To: pbear8
We have found a witch; may we burn her? How do you know she is a witch?
8
posted on
07/04/2003 9:36:22 PM PDT
by
DCBryan1
To: DCBryan1
She is dressed like one.
9
posted on
07/04/2003 9:45:52 PM PDT
by
pbear8
( sed libera nos a malo)
To: DCBryan1
We have found a witch; may we burn her?
BURN HER! BURN HER!
10
posted on
07/04/2003 9:47:05 PM PDT
by
DCBryan1
To: DCBryan1
This isn't my nose, it's a false one!
11
posted on
07/04/2003 9:48:56 PM PDT
by
pbear8
( sed libera nos a malo)
To: pbear8
There are ways to tell if she is a witch.
12
posted on
07/04/2003 9:49:55 PM PDT
by
DCBryan1
To: DCBryan1
Are there? What are they? Tell us!
13
posted on
07/04/2003 9:50:31 PM PDT
by
pbear8
( sed libera nos a malo)
To: pbear8
Tell me. What do you do with witches?
14
posted on
07/04/2003 9:53:34 PM PDT
by
DCBryan1
To: DCBryan1
Burn them!
15
posted on
07/04/2003 9:54:17 PM PDT
by
pbear8
( sed libera nos a malo)
To: DCBryan1
And what do you burn apart from witches?
16
posted on
07/04/2003 9:55:46 PM PDT
by
DCBryan1
To: DCBryan1
17
posted on
07/04/2003 9:56:23 PM PDT
by
pbear8
( sed libera nos a malo)
To: pbear8
So, why do witches burn?
18
posted on
07/04/2003 9:57:50 PM PDT
by
DCBryan1
To: DCBryan1
Because they're made of wood?
19
posted on
07/04/2003 9:58:53 PM PDT
by
pbear8
( sed libera nos a malo)
To: pbear8
So, how do we tell whether she is made of wood?
20
posted on
07/04/2003 10:00:04 PM PDT
by
DCBryan1
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