Witch Extermination

[bloodrayne]

41 'Witches' Murdered In 4 Years In Orissa Village

The tribal-dominated Sundargarh district of Orissa has been consistently reporting murder of persons suspected to be 'witches'.

And the toll in the last four years has come up to 41 since three women in the age group 51 to 81 in Hatibari were murdered, as they were suspected to be practicing witchcraft.

That was in September 2001. Five people were arrested.The same year another five women and a old man were murdered in different villages as they were suspected to be witches. 2002 recorded murder of 14 including 7 women.

Those murdered included a 80- year-old man and an 18- year- old girl. 23 people were arrested in connection with these murders. Another 18 have been victims of the superstition so far.

Although the police have arrested the suspects and accused there has been no let up in old men and women becoming targets of people who suspect them of practising witchcraft and causing harm to people.The police sources affirm that it is more a social problem with wide apread superstition in the tribal area.This has to be tackled through awareness campaigns.