Kendrapara: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Odisha Chief Secretary to pay compensation to the victims of witch hunting and submit a compliance report along with proof of payment within six weeks.
The commission also asked the CS 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 rights activist Randhakanta Tripahty, the NHRC passed the order. The petitioner 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 fellow villagers January 19, 2015 allegedly for practicing witchcraft.
Four of the victims have fled to Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. The whereabouts of two victims were not known as on date. The state has failed to provide safety to the victims and also in preventing practice of witchcraft, the petitioner alleged. Tripathy sought investigation of the case and action against the wrongdoers.
On the direction of the commission, the Berhampur Superintendent of Police had stated that cases under various sections of the IPC had been registered and the matter is sub judice.
Subsequently, the NHRC observed that despite directions and existence of the Odisha Prevention of Witch Hunting Act, 2013, many women have been branded witches and thereafter they as well as their families have been subjected to various kinds of atrocities including physical (rape, killings and disfiguring of their bodies), mental and economical harm to them.
The commission observed that the state has failed to prevent such incidents and so is negligent in discharging its constitutional duties, resulting in violation of human rights of witch hunting victims.
The NHRC then issued a show-cause notice to the Chief Secretary, as to why monetary compensation of Rs 75,000 each should not be recommended u/s 18(a)(i) for violation of their human rights.
Pursuant to the directions of the commission, the state government submitted that steps had been taken by the district administration and local police to eradicate the superstition of witchcraft. The report however, clarified that no compensation has been given to the victims by the district administration so far.
Finding it to be a fit case to recommend a sum of Rs 75,000 u/s 18(a)(i) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 to be paid to each of the witchcraft victims, the commission asked the state government to protect women from being branded witches and prevent atrocities on them and their families.
