In contemporary times, gender violence is a disturbing phenomenon prevalent in every society irrespective of political boundaries. Despite human civilisation having progressed in scientific temper, there are peoples who believe in witchcraft and witch hunting in different lands and cultures. Witch hunting is a form of gender violence, much ugly, yet less discussed and largely overlooked. Traditionally, in India, people practised witch hunting to ward off evil, but there have come up other socio-political motives viz. gender-based violence, vigilantism, land-grabbing and electoral gains. Having several legal deterrents in India it has acquired more eccentric dimensions and dehumanising methods under the garb of vigilante justice victimising women. More depressing is political apathy, police casualness and media underreporting, besides absence of sensitisation at school and institutional levels towards the atrocities of witch hunting and gross violations of human rights. This research paper attempts to study in the light of selective media reportages, relevant laws, the contemporary issues and challenges of witch hunting in India with special reference to Jharkhand.
Gender violence, witch, witchcraft, witch hunting, vigilantism, human rights
