India’s ‘witches’ Victims of Superstition and Poverty

Abstract

Witchcraft charges against women, girls, aged persons or disadvantaged community groups also long been part of the country India's history, resulting in abuse, murder, etc. Witch hunts are consistently documented by the UNHCR, which really is a major breach of human rights. In India, witch hunting activities include abuse and prosecutions all of which have led to either the murder or torture of suspected witches. These offenders are quite often perceived as a threat to the society and, as a result, they are sometimes starving to death, forced out, or violently murdered, often enough in the way of social cleansing by their own relatives. Epidemics, poverty, lack of development and economic crises are among the sources of witch hunts. By costing for in an exorcism or distributing limbs of the killed, the leader including its moral crusade, often an eminent figure in the religion or otherwise recognised as the "witch doctor" could also benefit economic profit. Together with women's rights groups, social justice campaigners have campaigned for more efficient and meaningful efforts. While they have established tougher legislation to punish abuse arising from claims of witchcraft, some organisations seek to reform women's views and orthodox beliefs.