In Assam and the North East, practising witchcraft or black magic dates back hundreds of years. Mayong was once known as the Indian Capital of Black Magic. Basically, the Assamese society has tribal roots. So some beliefs which prevailed in tribal society are still in existence. Such beliefs have become stronger with increasing social conflicts, and also as a result of the breakdown of old social ties and values, with the onset of globalization which has made people insecure.
In Assam, more than 500 people have been killed,
and 116 official cases of witch killing have been registered since 2011 in the
state.
During the last few years many ‘witches’ have been beheaded and buried in the villages
in at least 12 of the 27 districts of Assam.
According to the CID, it had registered 10 cases in 2008, 29 in 2011, 14 in
2012 and 16 in 2013. According to the Assam Police sources, a total of 85 cases
have been registered between 2011 and Feb 2014.
Though it is seen that it is women who are mostly branded as ’witches’, yet in a few cases in Kokrajhar, Chirang and Baksa districts,
males were branded as ‘witches’
too. In Assamese male witches are also called ‘Daini’
though the word is a feminine word.
Witch Hunting in other States:
This practice or belief is prevalent in other states of India
also. In Jharkhand, in 2001, the Jharkhand government passed the ‘Dayan Pratha Unmoolan (Prevention of witch practice) Act. In
Rajasthan also, this practice prevails, for which the Rajasthan government passed
the Rajasthan Women’s Bill in 2012, which says that it is illegal to call a woman ‘a dayan’
accusing her of performing witchcraft that leads to harm.
In Odisha there are cases of witch hunting. Chattisgarh also passed the
(Witchcraft Atrocities Prevention Act) in 2005 to stop such crimes. Tripura,
where majority are Adavasi, has witnessed incidents of witch hunting. Laxmi
Devi Burma, AIDWA activist from Tripura, campaigning for Left Front, was a tea
garden worker; she was
declared a witch by members of the Indigenous People Front of Tripura in
collusion with other residents of the village, and was murdered. (Frontline –Nov-11-24, 2000), Article by T K Rajalakshmi.
In Andhra Pradesh, according to the government, in the last two years
147 such murders have taken place. In West Bengal also, in certain pockets Like
Pachim Medhinipur, Dubrajpur village in Daspur area, Malda, Purulia, Bankura,
Birbhum (The Telegraph 22/6/2011) such practices prevail. In Bijli
and Tara village of Raipur district of Madhya Pradesh, in Gaandi, Pordha,
Haripuri village of Ranchi district such incidents of witch killing and naked
parading of women branded as witches have taken place. In Madhya Pradesh they
are called ‘Tonahi’
(witch). In Bihar also, such a practice prevails among the tribal
communities. People never consider it to be a crime to kill ‘witches’.
