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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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To: DCBryan1
Build a bridge out of her!
21 posted on 07/04/2003 10:00:50 PM PDT by pbear8 ( sed libera nos a malo)
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To: pbear8

Ah, but can you not also make bridges out of stone?

22 posted on 07/04/2003 10:01:39 PM PDT by DCBryan1
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To: pbear8

Does wood sink in water?

23 posted on 07/04/2003 10:02:17 PM PDT by DCBryan1
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To: DCBryan1
Oh yeah...
24 posted on 07/04/2003 10:03:01 PM PDT by pbear8 ( sed libera nos a malo)
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To: pbear8
No, no, it floats.
25 posted on 07/04/2003 10:05:32 PM PDT by pbear8 ( sed libera nos a malo)
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To: pbear8

Ah, what also floats in water?

26 posted on 07/04/2003 10:06:08 PM PDT by DCBryan1
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To: DeaconBenjamin
I take it that Hillary has'nt been there yet.
27 posted on 07/04/2003 10:07:47 PM PDT by Moosefart
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To: Moosefart; pbear8
This thread has been officially hijacked.

SO SOD OFF!

Did I tell you that a moose once bit my sister?

28 posted on 07/04/2003 10:09:15 PM PDT by DCBryan1
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To: DCBryan1
Bread

Apples

Very small rocks

Cider

Gravy

Cherries

Mud

Churches

Lead

A duck

29 posted on 07/04/2003 10:09:57 PM PDT by pbear8 ( sed libera nos a malo)
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To: pbear8

Bread!
Apples!
Uh, very small rocks!
Cider!
Uh, gra-- gravy!
Cherries!
Mud!
Uh, churches! Churches!
Lead! Lead!

30 posted on 07/04/2003 10:11:53 PM PDT by DCBryan1
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To: pbear8

King Arthur: A DUCK!

Exactly. So, logically...

31 posted on 07/04/2003 10:13:30 PM PDT by DCBryan1
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To: DCBryan1
Exactly, so logically...
32 posted on 07/04/2003 10:13:55 PM PDT by pbear8 ( sed libera nos a malo)
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To: DCBryan1

If... she... weighs... the same as a duck,... she's made of wood.

33 posted on 07/04/2003 10:14:18 PM PDT by DCBryan1
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To: pbear8
If she weighs the same as a duck, she's made of wood...
34 posted on 07/04/2003 10:15:02 PM PDT by pbear8 ( sed libera nos a malo)
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To: DCBryan1

....and therefore...???

35 posted on 07/04/2003 10:15:06 PM PDT by DCBryan1
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To: pbear8
And therefore...
36 posted on 07/04/2003 10:15:43 PM PDT by pbear8 ( sed libera nos a malo)
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To: pbear8
A witch!!!!
37 posted on 07/04/2003 10:16:49 PM PDT by pbear8 ( sed libera nos a malo)
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To: pbear8
AND THEREFORE?
38 posted on 07/04/2003 10:16:55 PM PDT by DCBryan1
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To: DCBryan1
On second thought let's not go to Camelot, it is a silly place.
39 posted on 07/04/2003 10:17:40 PM PDT by pbear8 ( sed libera nos a malo)
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To: DCBryan1
Moose bites can be rather nasty.

"Dont piss down my back and try to tell me that its raining."

40 posted on 07/04/2003 10:18:04 PM PDT by Moosefart
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