The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) a couple of days back has sought an action-taken report (ATR) from the Ganjam district Collector over his alleged failure in stopping witchcraft and consequent severe human rights violation. Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy drew the attention of the apex human rights watchdog explaining how brutal the witchcraft and sorcery in the district.
Tripathy in his petition stated that eight people, including two girls, were forced to eat human excreta, later tonsured and their teeth pulled out by Olopur villagers under Chikiti block of Ganjam district on January 19. “After the barbaric act, the villagers warned them not to leave Olopur. In the meantime, four of the victims have fled to Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh while the whereabouts of two girls are yet to be established,” the petitioner contended.
The rights activist requested the NHRC to investigate the case and urge to direct the State Government to pay compensation of Rs5 lakh to each one of the victims and take precautionary measures to stop such practices in the State. Acting on the petition the commission has sought an ATR from the concerned authority within four weeks.