The social stigma of calling women witches can be used to gain over land dispute is unbelievable. In such a shameful incident, a woman along with her family members has been driven away from her own village in the district recently.
According to reports, the woman belonging to Tarando village under Nikirai police station has fallen victim to the co-villagers’ superstition. Apart from being ostracised, the woman has also been imposed fine Rs30,000 for reportedly practicing witchcraft.
Ekadashi Behera, a wage earner, had been staying in the village for two decades in a house constructed on his own land. But, one Chingudi Nayak, wife of neighbour Manoranjan Nayak, claimed that the land belonged to her family. This led to some controversies between the two families. One day, an altercation erupted between them and Ekadashi’s wife Santilata lodged a complaint with Nikirai police station seeking justice. Nikirai police also registered a case and arrested Manoranjan and his wife Chingudi on charges of assaulting Santilata.
When the duo was released on bail, the couple allegedly instigated some village youths to call Shantilata a witch. They also hatched a plan to substantiate their allegation. Accordingly, they convened a village meeting and blamed Shantilata for practicing witchcraft. Imposing a fine of Rs30,000 on the couple, the villagers told them they would be ostracized if they fail to pay the fine.
“As my husband failed to provide the fine amount, the villagers restricted us from entering the village temple, drawing water from the village tube well and disallowing my children to attend school,” alleged Shantilata.
On December 16, Chingudi along with her husband and some fellow village youths forcibly entered into her and assaulted her while Ekadashi was absent. They have also threatened to kill her three-month-old son and to set his house on fire.
“In fear, we have left our house for last ten days. Even though, I have lodged a complaint with the Nikirai PS, the latter is yet to take any action,” Shantilata lamentd. When contacted IIC Kiran Hembram said he will conduct an inquiry soon.