Witch’ killings on in Jharkhand India

Hindustan Times ^ | Jamshedpur, July 5 | B Vijay Murty

[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."

[pbear8]

Hope you weren't animating anything important.

I played Arthur, King of the Britons to my college roommate's Patsy. I think she still has the coconuts. We will do it from time to time now and my husband wonders about our misspent time at University.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Perpetrated by ojhas (witch doctors), such killings have suddenly shot up in Jharkhand.

Ooh eee, ooh ahh ahh...ting tang walla walla bing bang!

[DCBryan1]

Damn, another freeper girl thats married.

Does your roomate have huge tracts of land?

[pbear8]

You looked like a man under all that armor, shields, edged weapons and stuff.

Good costume and make-up. I usually wear silk and velvets though.

[DCBryan1]

Does your roomate have huge tracts of land?

Or should I say, EX roomate...sigh.

[pbear8]

Not really, but she loves that scene - "What, the curtains???"

[DCBryan1]

Good costume and make-up. I usually wear silk and velvets though..

Like this?

[DCBryan1]

Not really, but she loves that scene - "What, the curtains???"

Good, I hate huge tracts of land. More than a handful is a waste (unless its swampland).

[pbear8]

She's 400 miles away, but comes to visit, so every once in a while she's still a roommate. Trying to talk her into meeting us in Vegas this fall.

[DCBryan1]

Im in Little Rock, where is she?

[pbear8]

Thank God I looked better on my wedding day (and still do). 'Patsy' was one of my bridesmaids. No one was killed that day at either the wedding or reception.

[pbear8]

LA, she works at FOX.

[DCBryan1]

sah-weet

[DCBryan1]

Pbear8, It has been fun, but I must bid you adieu. I have to get up in 6 hours :)

GOODNIGHT, and thank you for the laughs!

[pbear8]

Not my wedding...

[pbear8]

Fare thee well...sleep well brave knight. Ni!

[DCBryan1]

(Click her brave Lady)

[LilithUnfair]

A fair cop, but society is to blame.

[DAnconia55]

We are but eightscore young blondes and brunettes, all between the ages of 16 and 19 1/2, cut off in this castle with no one to protect us. Oh, it is a lonely life, bathing, dressing, undressing, knitting exciting underwear...

[LilithUnfair]

I could stay a bit longer.