Case Details of File Number: 54/3/16/2012-WC
Diary Number 21504
Name of the Complainant SHIRIN SHABANA KHAN, MEMBER-SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM
Address MANAVADHIKAR JAN NIGRANI SAMITI, SA 4/2A, DAULATPUR, VARANASI , UTTAR PRADESH
Name of the Victim WOMEN BRANDED AS WITCHES
Address ASSAM, ASSAM , ASSAM
Place of Incident TEZPUR SONITPUR , ASSAM
Date of Incident 2/12/2012
Direction issued by the Commission
The Commission received a complaint dated 22.02.2012 from Shirin Shabana Khan forwarding a news paper report regarding the practice of women being labelled as "witches". It also mentions an incident dated 12.02.2012 which occurred in Tejpur in Sonitpur District where Lakshmi Gawl was branded, murdered and buried. The day before this incident, another tribal woman, aged 45, was burnt alive in Sonali in Shiv Sagar District also allegedly for practicing witchcraft. In response to the directions dated 17.07.2012 and a last reminder dated 05.06.2013, whereby the Joint Secretary, Political (A) Department, Govt. of Assam, Dispur was asked to submit a report on the steps taken to eradicate, the practice and provide speedy compensation and justice to the kith & kin of victims, the Commission has received a report dated 20.08.2013 from the Joint Secretary, Political (A) Department, Govt. of Assam, Dispur giving details of the steps taken by the State Government in association with the NGOs and Assam State Commission for Women to eradicate, control and create awareness on witch hunting in the State. It is also mentioned that a draft bill conferring right to protection against witch hunting has been prepared by the a committee under the Assam State Commission for Women, which is under consideration of the Government. The report is however silent on the question of compensation and justice to the kith and kin of the victims. The Commission vide its proceedings dated 20.09.2013 directed to issue a reminder to the Joint Secretary, Political (A) Department, Govt. of Assam, Dispur to submit a further report on the question of compensation and justice to the kith and kin of the victims named in the complaint. In response, the Joint Secretary, Political (A) Department, Govt. of Assam, Dispur vide letter dated 09.01.2014 has requested to grant additional two month time to submit the report. The time extension is hereby granted. Let the Joint Secretary, Political (A) Department, Govt. of Assam, Dispur be asked to submit the requite report at the earliest.
Action Taken Additional Information Called for (Dated 2/12/2014 )
Status on 3/31/2014 Response from concerned authority is awaited.
Diary Number 21504
Name of the Complainant SHIRIN SHABANA KHAN, MEMBER-SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM
Address MANAVADHIKAR JAN NIGRANI SAMITI, SA 4/2A, DAULATPUR, VARANASI , UTTAR PRADESH
Name of the Victim WOMEN BRANDED AS WITCHES
Address ASSAM, ASSAM , ASSAM
Place of Incident TEZPUR SONITPUR , ASSAM
Date of Incident 2/12/2012
Direction issued by the Commission
The Commission received a complaint dated 22.02.2012 from Shirin Shabana Khan forwarding a news paper report regarding the practice of women being labelled as "witches". It also mentions an incident dated 12.02.2012 which occurred in Tejpur in Sonitpur District where Lakshmi Gawl was branded, murdered and buried. The day before this incident, another tribal woman, aged 45, was burnt alive in Sonali in Shiv Sagar District also allegedly for practicing witchcraft. In response to the directions dated 17.07.2012 and a last reminder dated 05.06.2013, whereby the Joint Secretary, Political (A) Department, Govt. of Assam, Dispur was asked to submit a report on the steps taken to eradicate, the practice and provide speedy compensation and justice to the kith & kin of victims, the Commission has received a report dated 20.08.2013 from the Joint Secretary, Political (A) Department, Govt. of Assam, Dispur giving details of the steps taken by the State Government in association with the NGOs and Assam State Commission for Women to eradicate, control and create awareness on witch hunting in the State. It is also mentioned that a draft bill conferring right to protection against witch hunting has been prepared by the a committee under the Assam State Commission for Women, which is under consideration of the Government. The report is however silent on the question of compensation and justice to the kith and kin of the victims. The Commission vide its proceedings dated 20.09.2013 directed to issue a reminder to the Joint Secretary, Political (A) Department, Govt. of Assam, Dispur to submit a further report on the question of compensation and justice to the kith and kin of the victims named in the complaint. In response, the Joint Secretary, Political (A) Department, Govt. of Assam, Dispur vide letter dated 09.01.2014 has requested to grant additional two month time to submit the report. The time extension is hereby granted. Let the Joint Secretary, Political (A) Department, Govt. of Assam, Dispur be asked to submit the requite report at the earliest.
Action Taken Additional Information Called for (Dated 2/12/2014 )
Status on 3/31/2014 Response from concerned authority is awaited.
