The Anti Chive- Cogent, Relevant, Topical
2003-07-04 14:18:13 UTC
Two women branded witches, burnt alive
IANS
RANCHI: In a gruesome incident of quick justice and quicker sentencing in
Jharkhand, two women were branded as witches and then burnt alive after a
local panchayat awarded them death on the basis of a nine-year-old girl's
statement.
The death sentence on the two women came after a four-hour hearing by the
panchayat, or village council, in Oratad village of Godda district, about
400 km from here, Wednesday.
According to police officials, the key witness was Talmaya Hansda, the
nine-year-old daughter of the ailing Aanant Hansda.
Talmaya reportedly said she had seen the two women carry out black magic on
the outskirts of the village. She quoted them as saying that they would take
out her father's heart.
The panchayat was acting on a complaint by Hansda' wife that he was in
danger from the two women.
The death sentence was carried out in a most brutal manner. The women were
first beaten mercilessly. When they fell on the ground, petrol was splashed
on them and they were set afire.
Even that was not enough. Villagers chased the burning women, who were
running wildly, and beat them till they finally died.
Interestingly, the local police station is located just three km from the
village. But police officials arrived on the scene after everything was
over.
Ironically, Hansda who was undergoing treatment in Sadar Hospital in Godda
is still alive.
Killing women by branding them witches is a common phenomenon in the state.
About 600 women have been killed this way in the last 10 years. The
anti-witchcraft law has failed to make an impact.
According to activists, in many cases women are labelled witches and then
killed to grab property.
http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitems.asp?ID=IEP20030703103424&Page=P&Title=S
tates&rLink=0
IANS
RANCHI: In a gruesome incident of quick justice and quicker sentencing in
Jharkhand, two women were branded as witches and then burnt alive after a
local panchayat awarded them death on the basis of a nine-year-old girl's
statement.
The death sentence on the two women came after a four-hour hearing by the
panchayat, or village council, in Oratad village of Godda district, about
400 km from here, Wednesday.
According to police officials, the key witness was Talmaya Hansda, the
nine-year-old daughter of the ailing Aanant Hansda.
Talmaya reportedly said she had seen the two women carry out black magic on
the outskirts of the village. She quoted them as saying that they would take
out her father's heart.
The panchayat was acting on a complaint by Hansda' wife that he was in
danger from the two women.
The death sentence was carried out in a most brutal manner. The women were
first beaten mercilessly. When they fell on the ground, petrol was splashed
on them and they were set afire.
Even that was not enough. Villagers chased the burning women, who were
running wildly, and beat them till they finally died.
Interestingly, the local police station is located just three km from the
village. But police officials arrived on the scene after everything was
over.
Ironically, Hansda who was undergoing treatment in Sadar Hospital in Godda
is still alive.
Killing women by branding them witches is a common phenomenon in the state.
About 600 women have been killed this way in the last 10 years. The
anti-witchcraft law has failed to make an impact.
According to activists, in many cases women are labelled witches and then
killed to grab property.
http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitems.asp?ID=IEP20030703103424&Page=P&Title=S
tates&rLink=0