Witchcraft case: NHRC issues notice to Meghalaya authorities

NHRC issued notices to the authorities of East Khasi Hill district in Meghalaya in connection with a case in which a man was allegedly forced to eat human excreta by the village panchayat.

New Delhi: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday issued notices to the authorities of East Khasi Hill district in Meghalaya in connection with a case in which a man was allegedly forced to eat human excreta by the village panchayat which accused him of practicing witchcraft. According to an statement issued by NHRC today, the rights panel has issued notices to the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police of East Khasi Hill district. They have been given four weeks` time to submit a report in this case.

The notices were issued after the rights panel took suo-motu cognizance of a media report which said that a person alleged to have been practicing witchcraft was forced to eat human excreta by the panchayat of Wahkdait village in East Khasi Hills district of Meghayala, the statement said. According to the media report carried on July 24, four girls of the village alleged that one Noping Khongsit used to appear in their dreams and frighten them with snakes. Believing their statements, the local `dorbar` declared him guilty of practicing witchcraft, held him responsible for scaring the four girls, and punished him by making him eat human excreta. The Commission has observed the contents of the press report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights to live with dignity. PTI