A 36-year-old woman was labeled as a witch - a woman who performs black magic and causes harm to people -
in Tapi, Gujarat. People labelled her a witch and brutally thrashed.
She was beaten up so badly that she required urgent medical attention.
Buhari police were informed of the incident but FIR has not been filed.
Residents of a small village in Tapi
tied the woman to an electrical pole, assaulted and abused her.
They told her to leave the village.
They thought that she was responsible for some bad events that happened to some of them.
Fortunately, a good samaritan called 181 Abhayam helpline and informed them of the situation.
The team reached the place and saw that the woman’s condition was very bad
so they called an ambulance and took her to the hospital for treatment.
Usually victims of witch hunts are widows.
Even this 36-year-old lady was a widow and hence was branded a witch.
Her husband passed away 6 years ago.
Her mother and two sons aged 14 and 9 years are her family.
She is the only earning member of her family.
She works as a farm labourer to support her family.
Abhayam helpline officials informed that the villagers called a tantric to perform an exorcism on her.
They abused her and told her to leave the village.
They believed she had cast her ‘evil eye’ on them that cause their problems.
Recently when a neighbour was sick, they blamed it on the woman.
The villagers dragged her out of her house, tied her to the electrical pole and began thrashing her
to exorcise her. While the woman was suffering.
Police officials were informed but even though than 24 hours had passed,
the police had taken no action against the accused and not even filed an FIR.
National Commission for Women (NCW) came to know about the incident through the newspaper
and issued orders to the Gujarat DGP to send a report on action taken in the matter.
Now our lives have changed. Earlier there was filth on roads and people defecated in the open.
Now roads are clean and people have indoor washrooms. There is cleanliness.
As compared to before, people are more educated and aware.
But in remote areas since there is no accessibility & awareness, people cling to their beliefs.
Because of this they believe in superstitions like if a black cat crosses your path,
it can lead to bad luck.
People believed it is an ill omen to touch a girl when she is menstruating,
they blamed a person's Deafness on their past life's mistakes.
Some believe looking at the sky on a new moon day is an ill omen. People believe in many such superstitions.
These are still practised in many places. Due to awareness some have changed but others still believe this.
A few states have accepted anti- witch hunting laws, but not Gujarat.