The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Odisha Chief Secretary to pay compensation of Rs 7.50 lakh to the victims of witchcraft and submit compliance report along with proof of payment within six weeks.
At the same time, the NHRC also asked the Chief Secretary to intimate as to whether any monetary compensation has been paid to victims under the provisions of the Odisha Prevention of Witch Hunting Act, 2013.
Acting on a petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Randhakanta Tripahty, the NHRC passed the order. He alleged that eight villagers, including two girls, of Olapur village of Chikiti Block of Ganjam district were tortured and forced to eat human excreta in full public view, by the villagers on January 19, 2015, allegedly for practicing witchcraft.
Four of the victims fled to Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. The whereabouts of the two victims Jhunu and Susama were not known, as on date. The State has failed to provide safety to the victims and also in preventing practice of witchcraft, Tripathy alleged.
The NHRC found it to be a fit case to recommend a sum of Rs 75,000 to be paid to each of the victims, namely Kartika Behera, Sushama Behera, Keuta Behera, Amar Behera, Subash Behera , Jhunu Behera and Mohan Sahu for violation of their human rights and inaction on the part of the authorities of State of Odisha to protect women from being branded as witch and atrocities on the women and her family members thereafter even when their exist Odisha Prevention Witch Hunting Act, 2013.