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'Witch-hunt' continues in state, 5 killed in 2 weeks

| Sunday | 18th September, 2016

BHUBANESWAR: Cases of witch-hunt continue across the state despite the state government claims of initiating steps to curb the menace. Villagers had killed two persons - Ganga Gamang, 60, and Biri Sundaray, 45 - of tribal-dominated Chudangpur village in Gajapati district, suspecting them to be sorcerers. Six members of a family, including four children, were killed by residents of Lahanda village in the district on suspicion of the family practising witchcraft. When four people died in the village due to illness, the villagers suspected the duo's role in doing black magic, and killed them. The state has witnessed 26 murders in 2015 after Jharkhand's 32.Though the state government has introduced Odisha Prevention of Witch Hunting Act in 2013, such cases continue.A Odisha Rationalist Society report said 355 people have been killed in the state in the last six years in various witchcraft-related crimes.

BHUBANESWAR: Cases of witch-hunt continue across the state despite the state government claims of initiating steps to curb the menace. In the last two weeks, five persons have been killed in Odisha.Police on Friday detained eight persons for their alleged involvement in killing three members of a family of Kitung village in Rayagada district on September 9, suspecting them to be sorcerers. The tribal Arjun Sabar, his wife and daughter were killed without any reason. The police said the villagers suspected Sabar of "casting an evil spell on the village". They killed the three and buried the bodies in the forest. The case came to light after police received information regarding the incident from its own sources.A similar incident occurred in Gajapati district on September 5. Villagers had killed two persons - Ganga Gamang, 60, and Biri Sundaray, 45 - of tribal-dominated Chudangpur village in Gajapati district, suspecting them to be sorcerers. When four people died in the village due to illness, the villagers suspected the duo's role in doing black magic, and killed them. They burnt the bodies in the forest, police sources said.Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Koraput, Ganjam and Malkangiri are the other worst-affected districts.On July 13 last year, Keonjhar district witnessed a witch hunt-related murder case. Six members of a family, including four children, were killed by residents of Lahanda village in the district on suspicion of the family practising witchcraft. This heinous crime shocked the country and raised questions on the efficacy of the state government in eradicating the social evil.According to a National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, Odisha occupies second place after Jharkhand in witchhunting related murder. The state has witnessed 26 murders in 2015 after Jharkhand's 32.Though the state government has introduced Odisha Prevention of Witch Hunting Act in 2013, such cases continue.A Odisha Rationalist Society report said 355 people have been killed in the state in the last six years in various witchcraft-related crimes. The study revealed that 56 people were killed in 2010, 72 in 2011, 52 and 60 people in 2012 and 2013 respectively, while 54 and 61 people were murdered in 2014 and 2015.Society's secretary Debendra Sutar said such incidents are happening due to lack of education and awareness.

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