By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy
As many as 44 people were killed in connection with witchcraft and sorcery rites in the last one year.
Karimnagar, Nalgonda and Medak districts witnessed the most number of black magic murders according to the state crime records bureau.
In all, 211 cases were registered in connection with witchcraft in 2007 as against 182 in 2006 and 161 in 2005. Karimnagar topped the list with 41 cases in which eight persons were killed followed by Nalgonda, Medak, Warangal, Nizamabad and Adilabad.
In Medak district, an elderly couple who was accused of practising black magic was tied together and set ablaze.
Similarly, seven persons were killed in Adilabad, six in Nizamabad, and five each in Medak and Warangal over sorcery and witchcraft allegations.
Violent incidents linked to witchcraft were also reported from Visakhapatnam rural, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam. Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra districts (except for north Andhra) are relatively free of the menace of black magic rites.
“In many places, people suspected to be practicing black magic are tied to trees and beaten up,” said the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Mr A.K. Khan. “They are known as banamati or chetabadi.” In some instances, mobs have plucked the teeth of those who were branded as sorcerers. There have also been cases of mobs lynching alleged sorcerers.
“We are taking out awareness campaign in several districts against such superstitions,”said Mr Khan. “In many cases, it is an individual or a family versus the entire village. We should increase the scientific temperament of people to fight this menace.” Social activists and police blame movies and TV programmes for giving added strength to the superstitious beliefs of people.
“There shall be reasonable restrictions on films and programmes promoting black magic and witchcraft,” said the ADGP.
The AP Praja Natya Mandali has also asked the government to discourage TV serials were encouraging beliefs in sorcery
Karimnagar, Nalgonda and Medak districts witnessed the most number of black magic murders according to the state crime records bureau.
In all, 211 cases were registered in connection with witchcraft in 2007 as against 182 in 2006 and 161 in 2005. Karimnagar topped the list with 41 cases in which eight persons were killed followed by Nalgonda, Medak, Warangal, Nizamabad and Adilabad.
In Medak district, an elderly couple who was accused of practising black magic was tied together and set ablaze.
Similarly, seven persons were killed in Adilabad, six in Nizamabad, and five each in Medak and Warangal over sorcery and witchcraft allegations.
Violent incidents linked to witchcraft were also reported from Visakhapatnam rural, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam. Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra districts (except for north Andhra) are relatively free of the menace of black magic rites.
“In many places, people suspected to be practicing black magic are tied to trees and beaten up,” said the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Mr A.K. Khan. “They are known as banamati or chetabadi.” In some instances, mobs have plucked the teeth of those who were branded as sorcerers. There have also been cases of mobs lynching alleged sorcerers.
“We are taking out awareness campaign in several districts against such superstitions,”said Mr Khan. “In many cases, it is an individual or a family versus the entire village. We should increase the scientific temperament of people to fight this menace.” Social activists and police blame movies and TV programmes for giving added strength to the superstitious beliefs of people.
“There shall be reasonable restrictions on films and programmes promoting black magic and witchcraft,” said the ADGP.
The AP Praja Natya Mandali has also asked the government to discourage TV serials were encouraging beliefs in sorcery
No comments:
Post a Comment