
Make ‘witch branding’ an offence, suggests panel
The Hindu
Odisha women’s commission wants urgent action
The Odisha State Commission for Women (SCW) has sought stringent provisions in the Odisha Prevention of Witch Hunting Act 2013 while demanding that branding of victims also be treated as heinous crime and punishable in the State.
The State women panel found inadequacy in the existing Act after it went through findings of a research it had commissioned in 12 districts.
Identifying, causing, stigmatising, defaming or accusing any person by words or signs or any actions is witch branding and subsequent abetting physical or mental harm, injury or harassment which may involve mass frenzy, sexual or emotional violence should be punishable, the SCW said.
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