Police drive against witchcraft killings - The Times of India

 Wouldn't a better solution be protecting the rights of people to have their own beliefs?

The awareness drive assumes significance as Ganjam is one of the districts in which sorcery is widely prevalent. Ostracizing and killing people, especially old men and women, for allegedly practising witchcraft remains a socio-economic problem in the district, the campaigners said.

A senior police officer said at least one such case is reported every week in the district. A 50-year-old man was beaten to death by some villagers at Dhepaguda, a predominantly tribal village under Patapur police limits, recently.

Ignorance, illiteracy, ill health and a strong belief in the witchcraft are some of the reasons for the wide practice of such superstition in rural areas, said E T Rao, vice president, Federation of Indian Rationalist Association, fighting against blind belief. He said such cases are mostly reported from tribal-dominated areas.

Police drive against witchcraft killings - The Times of India