The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an Action-Taken Report (ATR) from the district Collector of Mayurbhanj on the incident of two men eating the flesh of a dead women during a funeral ritual.
Acting on a petition filed by rights lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy, the NHRC sought a reply within four weeks.
The two accused persons reportedly ate the flesh of a dead body identified as Madhusmita, at a cremation ground near Bandhasahi village under Badasahi police limits in Mayurbhanj district on July 12.
The accused identified as Sundar Mohan Singh (58) and Narendra Singh (25) of Dantuni village took away the body from the funeral and ate its flesh as a matter of practice of witchcraft.
Shocked over the incident, the villagers demanded stern action against the two. The police registered an UD case in this regard. However, it was alleged that though the family of the deceased was entitled to assistance under the Harischandra Yojana, they were not provided any benefits. So, they left the body half-charred
The petitioner alleged that there was gross violation of rights of the deceased as promulgated and practiced in India. Besides, Tripathy contended that practice of sorcery continues unabated in tribal areas despite the Odisha Prevention of Witch-hunting Act 2013 and the administration of Mayurbhanj was lax about it.
Tripathy requested for a detailed investigation from all possible angles into the case, legal action and compensation with benefits of social welfare schemes to the bereaved family.