JHALSA Takes Cognisance Of Witch-Hunting Murder In Lohardaga District; Provides Financial Aid To Victims' Family

The Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (JHALSA) has taken suo motu cognisance of the brutal killing of three members of a family in Lohardaga district over allegations of witchcraft (“daayan bisahi”).

Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad, Executive Chairman of JHALSA, directed the Principal District Judge (PDJ), Lohardaga, to take immediate action to ensure the arrest of the culprits and to extend necessary legal and financial assistance to the victims' family.

Following his instructions, a team constituted by the PDJ visited the victims' home and handed over an immediate financial assistance of ₹20,000. The process to grant compensation under the Victim Compensation Scheme has also been initiated, and free legal aid has been assured to the affected family.

Justice Prasad also instructed the PDJ to hold a meeting with SP Sadiq Anwar Rizvi and SDPO Vedant Shankar to ensure the swift arrest of the accused persons involved in the heinous crime.

Further, the Executive Chairman has directed the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Lohardaga, to conduct legal awareness camps in the region to educate people about the social evils of witch-hunting and the stringent legal consequences of such practices. He also advised DLSA to carry out a door-to-door awareness campaign and, if necessary, set up a temporary legal aid center in the affected area.