27 May,2011 06:15 AM IST | | Vivek Sabnis
Another living in fear of death after being declared dakin, but cops don't provide her protection or arrest babas spreading superstition
After a woman was branded a witch and killed in a village near Dhule, another woman from the region has come forward and asked for police protection. But she continues to live in fear of her life as protection has been denied her, say anti-superstition activists. Superstition about dakin (witch) is still a major social problem in the Adivasi community in the Akkalkua village region near Dhule.
Witch-hunting is not dead: Gangibai Bawa Tadvi from Surgas village
has been called a witch and has unsuccessfully sought police protection
In a crime connected with such beliefs, Joharabai Walvi, a 21-year-old married woman was found murdered with her child. It was alleged that she practised witchcraft, causing the death of children. It was also alleged that her black magic was infecting mothers' milk, leading to children developing serious diseases. The Shirpur police, who are investigating the case, filed a case of murder (Section 302 of IPC) against Joharabai's brother-in-law Dharma Khalya Walvi, sister-in-law Kedibai Khalya Walvi and a neighbourhood woman, Sakhubai Dilya Padvi, all of them residents of Akkalkua in Nandurbar district.
Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti activists creating awareness against the
dakin superstition at Surgas village, Nandurbar district
Baba still at large
Champalal Maharaj, who had allegedly pointed fingers at Joharabai, is still a free person as there is no legal provision to arrest a person who spreads dangerous superstitions. Witches are randomly identified and tortured by the village people and sometimes by members of the family. Now, Gangibai Bawa Tadvi, a 50-year old woman from Surgas village in Nandurbar district near Dhule, is living under the threat of losing her life. "I have been called a dakin and now god alone can save me from these people," she said.u00a0She was also denied police protection when she approached the Molgi police station. The police did not even register an NC against the people in her village.
Avinash Patil and Vinayak Tavde, activists from the NGO Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (ANS), an anti-superstition outfit, requested the village police chief Indya Tadvi and Sarpanch Ramsingh Tadvi to protect Gangibai. Both orally agreed to do so, but said that nothing was in their hands if anything happened to Gangibai. "Champalal Maharaj is a baba who has been doing this dakin thing for many years. We brought him to the police four years ago, but he gave a written assurance that he would not commit this sin any more," Tavde said.
Attacked with axe
Incidents of identification of dakins at Surgas village are on the rise. A case of attempt to murder came to the police on May 20, when a woman named Partibai Raut (36) from Kathigaon in the region was also labelled a dakin. Her father-in-law Karma and mother-in-law Kina allegedly attacked her with an axe; they were later arrested. Partibai suffered serious injuries on her hands and is undergoing treatment at the village government hospital. Patil and Tavde said that the police are still not handling these cases properly and are not keeping a separate record of dakin cases even when they have been instructed to do so. Senior Police Inspector Gokul More from the Molgi police station was not available on the cell phone to comment on the issue.
900 cases of dakin branding in 9 years
The Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti has maintained a separate register for dakin cases in Dhule and Nandurbar since 2002. The samiti says no arrest of the babas who declare women witches takes place as there is no law against the spreading of superstition. Dr Narendra Dabholkar, founder president, ANS, said that the state government was still sitting on the proposed anti-superstitious law that the ANS drafted five years ago. "As the law has not been enacted, cases of dakin victims are increasing in the state's Adivasi belt," he said.
