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Thursday 30 June 2011

Witch Hunting in Assam - A Matter of Public Concern


Four women have been hacked to death in Kokrajhar district in between  15-18 April 2011 and all the deaths are the result of the blind superstitious practice of witch hunting. Purni Basumatari, 57, and Modani Basumatari, 55, were beaten to death in Belguri Guwabari village on April 15, and Bifula Narzary, 49, was killed in Bosabeel village the next day. Another woman was killed in Samthaibari village on Sunday. Earlier on January 1, a couple - Sarat Bindo Hazowary, 65, and Tapashree Hazowary, 52, were killed in Habrubeel village.

The practice of witch-hunting is an extreme form of violence against women. Suitable measures should be adopted to eliminate the practice of witch-hunting by prosecuting and punishing the perpetrators. Presently there is no law in Assam to deal with the rampant practice of witch hunting. 

“Witch Hunting” is a matter of public concern that requires urgent attention and to prosecute and punish those involved in the gruesome practice. It is also essentially required to create awareness among the masses to eradicate this evil practice and to adopt a policy on eradication of the practice at an urgent measure.


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