“witchcraft”

 

 “witchcraft”

In many parts of India — including Assam — the word witchcraft is often used in a superstitious or accusatory sense.
People (usually women, elderly persons, or vulnerable families) are falsely branded as witches or sorcerers when:

• someone in the village falls ill

• livestock dies or crops fail

• people look for someone to blame

These accusations are not based on evidence or reality — they come from fear, rumor, and superstition.

Witch-hunting

The practice of accusing someone of witchcraft and attacking them is called witch-hunting.
It often leads to:

• social boycott

• torture and humiliation

• displacement

• mob lynching or murder

It is considered a serious human-rights violation.

Laws against witch-hunting (Assam)

Because such incidents were frequent, Assam passed a special law:

Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Act, 2015

Under this law:

• branding someone a witch is a criminal offense

• punishment can include imprisonment and fines

• if the act leads to death, penalties are even more severe

Causes of Witch-Hunting

1️⃣ Superstition and Blind Belief

• Illness, death, crop failure, or bad luck are wrongly linked to “black magic”.

• Lack of scientific understanding leads people to blame an individual.

2️⃣ Illiteracy and Lack of Awareness

• Low education levels → myths and rumors spread easily.

3️⃣ Social & Economic Vulnerability

• Victims are often:

  • widows

  • elderly people

  • minorities / tribal communities

  • poor & landless families

Sometimes accusations are used to grab land or property.

4️⃣ Influence of Local Healers / Witch Doctors

• “Ojhas”, “Tantriks”, or village shamans may instigate accusations.

5️⃣ Group Psychology & Mob Mentality

• Rumors spread quickly

• Fear + anger turns into violence

6️⃣ Lack of Law Enforcement

• Slow police action or weak reporting encourages repeat incidents.

7️⃣ Cultural Stigma & Patriarchy

• Women are disproportionately targeted

• Linked to gender-based violence & social exclusion

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🟢 Preventive Measures

1️⃣ Education & Public Awareness

• Promote scientific thinking & health literacy

• Awareness drives in rural and tribal areas

• School curriculum on superstition harms

2️⃣ Strengthening Healthcare Access

• Provide doctors & mental-health services in villages

• Address diseases scientifically instead of blaming “witchcraft”

3️⃣ Strict Implementation of Laws

• Enforce:

  • Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Act, 2015

  • IPC provisions against mob lynching & hate crimes

• Fast-track courts for such cases

4️⃣ Protection & Rehabilitation of Victims

• Safe shelters

• Compensation & legal aid

• Social reintegration programs

5️⃣ Community Engagement

• Train:

  • Panchayat leaders

  • ASHA workers

  • Teachers & social workers

• Encourage community reporting of rumor-spreaders

6️⃣ Action Against Instigators

• Penalize:

  • witch-doctors

  • rumor-spreaders

  • people inciting mob violence

7️⃣ Media & Civil Society Role

• Responsible reporting

• Campaigns against superstition & stigma

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✍️   Conclusion

Witch-hunting is not a religious or cultural practice — it is a social crime rooted in superstition, poverty, and ignorance. Preventing it requires a combined effort of law enforcement, education, healthcare access, and community awareness, along with strong protection for vulnerable groups.