Odisha’s violent witchcraft cases have prompted the NHRC to seek an ATR

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice and requested an Action Taken Report (ATR) from the Director General of Police and the Chief Secretary of Odisha over the alleged lack of action taken to prevent witchcraft and other forms of dark magic from being practiced inside the state.

Radhakanta Tripathy, a lawyer and rights activist, made a statement to the effect that “due to the failure, negligence, and inaction of the Government of Odisha, the prolonged problems arising out of superstitions continue in the State.” He then went on to ask for the involvement of the apex rights panel.

 

Tripathy made this appeal to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), citing a recent incident in which a little kid was found to have been the victim of human sacrifice in the district of Angul. He asked the commission to bring justice to the victims and their families as well as put an end for good to the barbaric practice.

 

 

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a ruling in which it said that “in the instant matter has highlighted before this Commission a serious issue of human sacrifices, murders, and other heinous acts, which are prevailing throughout the State of Odisha, on suspicion of sorcery and witchcraft.” The complaint has provided evidence in the form of a number of similar occurrences that have occurred in recent times as well as data on the amount of people who have been murdered as a result of these incidents.

 

It is said that the primary reason for these heinous deeds is a failure on the part of state officials to properly administer the law that governs witchcraft and sorcery, which has been cited as the underlying cause. Even members of the police force try to avoid including the requirements of the Odisha Prevention of Witch Hunting Act 2013 into the formal reports of the investigation. According to the statements made by the NHRC, allegations have been made that continued violations of human rights may be attributed to the incompetence of state apparatus.

 

The National Human Rights Commission requested a report on the actions taken within a period of four weeks, which should include the initiatives taken by the State in order to combat the problem of human sacrifices, as well as killings caused by sorcery, black magic, and witchcraft.