FEB 18, 2000
PAG A-12
KILLING OF WOMEN, LABELED AS WITCHES, IS INCREATING
REUTERS
BUT PREM CHAND, PRESIDENT OF LOCAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION FREE LEGAL AID COMMITTEE, WHICH REHABILITATES TORMENTED WOMEN, BELIEVES THE ACTUAL FIGURE COULD BE MORE THAN 1000. "MOST OF THE CASES ARE EITHER NOT REPORTED, OR NOT REGISTERED BY THE POLICE," HE SAYS.
"ONCE A WOMAN IS DECLARED A WITCH AND OSTRACIZED FROM THE VILLAGE, IT BECOMES EASY TO STRIP HER OF HER PROPERTY," EXPLAINS MAHASWETA DEVI, AN AUTHOR WHO IS INVOLVED IN A MOVEMENT AGAINST SUPERSTITION AND WITCHCRAFT.
IN A BID TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, THE STATE GOVERNMENT IS ABOUT TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION CALLED THE PREVENTION OF WITCH PRACTICES ACT, 1999.
UNDER THE BILL, PEOPLE WHO PRACTICE WITCHCRAFT, DECLARE WOMEN AS WITCHES OR PARTICIPATE IN TORTURE WILL BE FINED UP TO RS. 2000 OR IMPRISONED FOR UP TO A YEAR WITHOUT BAIL.