Indian Witch Hunting victims (L-R) Sugani Rabha, Lakshmi Rabha, Khedai Rabha, Lansun Rabha and Sampui Rabha sharing their ordeals at a state level consultation on ‘Witch hunting’ organisaed by Asam Mahila Samata Samiti on the occasion of International Human Rights Day in Guwahati city, northeast India, 10 December 2010. © picture-alliance/dpa

Every year, hundreds of women in India are attacked and even murdered after being accused of being witches. DW travelled to India’s eastern state of Jharkhand to take a closer look at what could be behind this often fatal superstition.

Witch hunting is a superstition. A witch is believed to be one who practices black magic and as a result brings evil to the community. Most of the victims are women though sometime men are also branded as witch. Tipically, if there is any outbreak of disease without cure, a priest of the local temple predicts the name of the witch, and the villager then takes the action of either eliminating the accused woman or chasing her from the village.

Before killing or chasing away the women or her family is humiliated in the public by shaving her hair or paraded naked. Various women’s rights group in Assam state are demanding a state law to eliminate this evil practice. (Source: EPA)

80% of the cases are not reported. Many people say the women did not die because they were witches. There are other reasons. So what is really behind witch hunting? Watch here!

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