Murder of five-member family on allegations of witchcraft: Jharkhand High Court takes suo moto cognizance

The Jharkhand High Court has taken took suo motu cognizance of the gruesome murder of five members of a family who were killed on orders of a village council on allegation that they were practicing witchcraft (Court on its own motion v. State of Jharkhand).A Division bench of Chief Justice Dr. Ravi Ranjan and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad said that it was very disturbed by the news item published by Times of India newspaper on March 3 which as per which five persons including a 5-year-old child were killed at Pahar, Gumla after a village council sentenced them to death. .It was reported that around seven to eight villagers had attacked the family members, after consuming alcohol. In the incident, one Nikodine and his wife Josephson, were attacked with sharp weapons. The mob also killed the rest of the family members including the five-year-old to eliminate eyewitnesses. ."This is not only shameful but also raises a serious question upon the entire system as to how in the present modern civilized society such type of incidents has taken place. On the basis of the aforesaid fact stated in the newspapers, this Court takes cognizance of the matter," the order said. .The Court also came down heavily on the State authorities and directed them to take stringent actions. "It is a right time when the State Authorities must rise from deep sleep and think over it and take some serious action," the Court observed..Further, the Court also adverted to the programs which were initiated by Jharkand State Legal Service Authority (JHALSA) to spread awareness regarding the evils of witchcraft practice within the state. Accordingly, the Court directed JHALSA to conduct an enquiry into the matter, through the District Legal Services Authority and submit a report before the court.The Court also directed Deputy Commissioner, Gumla as well as the Superintendent of Police, Gumla to provide security/protection to the team of the Legal Services Authority during the course of enquiry..Further, the Principal Secretary, Department of Home, Government of Jharkhand and the Principal Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Government of Jharkhand as well as the Director General of Police, Jharkhand, Ranchi were directed to file their concerned affidavits, regarding "the occurrence and the action they have already taken or they propose to take so that such type of incident could be avoided.".Advocate General Rajiv Ranjan appeared on behalf of the State. The matter has now been listed for hearing on March 18. .[Read Order]