Executive Chairman, Jhalsa of Jharkhand High Court, Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad took cognizance of the case of deceased Baleshwar Oraon in the Angada-witch hunting incident published on Thursday in the newspaper and has ordered the District Legal Services Authority, Ranchi to immediately meet the family of the deceased and provide necessary assistance.

In the light of this instruction, Judicial Commissioner-cum-Chairman, DLSA, Ranchi, Diwakar Pandey ordered the DLSA Secretary to immediately form a team and provide legal assistance to the victim's family. In the light of this order, Secretary District Legal Services Authority, Ranchi Kamlesh Behera formed a team, in which Dulari Kumari, Panel Advocate, PLV, Baby Sinha and Tara Minj have been appointed.

Sinha and Minj met the victim's family and gave information about the free legal assistance provided by DALSA.

Ranchi DALSA will provide assistance to the victim's family for the case and Advocate Dulari Kumari has been appointed by the DLSA for legal assistance to the victim's family. Also, the injured Shanichariya Devi, wife of the deceased, was given proper treatment at Ranchi Sadar Hospital and her Ayushman card was also made from Sadar Hospital under Ayushman Bharat Health Scheme.

The process of compensation for the victim was taken forward by DLSA, Ranchi under the Jharkhand Victim Compensation Scheme. As per the instructions of the Executive Chairman, JHALSA, the DLSA Secretary himself met the victim's family and provided a cheque of Rs 10,000 as interim compensation to the family of the deceased. Apart from this, the process of making widow pension of the deceased's wife and job cards of the three sons under the welfare scheme of the government was also taken forward.

The Block Development Officer (BDO) Angada Block, Jaipal Soye, present on the spot, assured to provide employment to the three sons of the deceased under MGNREGA.

In reference to the incident, legal awareness was also organized among the villagers in Jarga village, village, Tetri Toli of Angada block under the leadership of DALSA Secretary, where Soye, Angada Police Station In-charge, Chamra Minj, Panel Advocate, Dulari Kumari, Village Head-Christina, PLV-Baby Sinha were present. Behera said that witch hunting is a superstition; there is a provision of punishment for it in the law. Do not harass anyone in the name of witch hunting; it is a serious crime, which DALSA is moving forward to end by running awareness programs from time to time.

The BDO said that such an incident is condemnable. People are harassed in the name of witch hunting, which is absolutely wrong. DALSA always creates awareness on this subject through various programs, which is commendable. Angada Police Station Officer said on the spot that we are alert to prevent recurrence of such incidents and strict action under law will be taken against those involved in such crimes.