BHRC asks DGP to get study conducted on witch-hunting

Taking suo motu cognizance of 'witch-hunting' cases in the state, the Bihar Human Rights Commission (BHRC) today asked the Director General of Police (DGP) P K Thakur to get a study done on the issue.
The study should aim at finding out the most prone districts with regard to witch-hunting, and whether the object of the perpetrators is to rob the victim of her property or punish her for turning down sexual advances, or settling grouses arising out of village politics.
"According to our information, 112 murders related to witch-hunting were committed in the country in 2012. Bihar with 13 such incidents ranks fourth behind Odisha, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh. We would like to contribute effectively in bringing down such human rights violations," said BHRC member Neelmani.

Odisha registered 32 witch-hunt related killings, Jharkhand had 26 and Andhra Pradesh recorded 24 such incidents in 2012.
In the letter sent to the DGP, the BHRC has also asked for suggestions whether the existing law is effective or needs to be made more stringent in tackling the menace.
The BHRC also asked the Principal Secretary of the Social Welfare Department about provisions for rehabilitation and compensation for the victims as they often have to live ostracized from their villages.

BHRC has directed both the DGP and the SWD Principal Secretary to submit their reports by November 30. The matter will be taken up again on December 5.

Neelmani said initial administrative response appeared to be satisfactory but it had little impact in stopping the incidents in totality, though Bihar was the first state in the country to enact Prevention of Witchcraft (Dayeen) Practices Act way back in 1999.
"We want to involve various government agencies to generate an effective and holistic response towards the issue. We also want to know about the government and non-government agencies with which the police would like to associate in effectively denting the related issues," added Neelmani.