Allahabad High Court today sought Uttar Pradesh government's reply on alleged cruel treatment meted out to some tribal women in the name of sorcery at a religious congregation here.
The order was passed on a PIL filed by Deeksha Dwivedi and others drawing the court's attention towards a news report about some tribal women from Banda district who were brought here by a sorcerer and subjected to cruel treatment in the name of "driving away evil forces".
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice Dilip Gupta also asked the state government to set up an inquiry committee to look into the alleged incident that took place last week at the 'Magh Mela', a month-long religious congregation organised at the holy Sangam every year, and take "immediate action" against the accused.
The court has fixed February 5 as the next date of hearing in the matter.
