National
Govt team in Kailali to inquire about witchcraft torture case after a week
A government team arrived in Dhangadhi, Kailali, to inquire about the incident in which an 18-year-old girl was tortured for six hours by a so-called shaman and his followers accusing her of practising witchcraft in Devkaliya village of Ghodaghodi Municipality-5.DR Panta
A government team arrived in Dhangadhi, Kailali, to inquire about the incident in which an 18-year-old girl was tortured for six hours by a so-called shaman and his followers accusing her of practising witchcraft in Devkaliya village of Ghodaghodi Municipality-5.
The team led by joint secretary Radhika Aryal of Ministry of Woman and Children has arrived in the district a week after the incident.
The team members met with the victim and her family members on Wednesday.
Chief District Officer (CDO) Govinda Rijal said the team also visited the District Police Office to inquire about the case.
The team is scheduled to visit the incident site on Thursday. The main accused Ram Bahadur Chaudhary, a self-professed shaman, and his aides had tortured the victim for six hours before the villagers. No one had come to her rescue.
Ram Bahadur and two of his aides are currently in police custody.
The victim, a former Kamlari (indentured child labourer), is taking shelter at Safe House, a social organisation, in Dhangadhi.
The District Relief Fund, headed by the CDO, has provided Rs 20,000 to the victim for her daily expenses.
CDO Rijal said his office was making efforts to rehabilitate the victim in the village.
The office is also planning to conduct an awareness campaign against superstition in the village.
The officials from the Dhangadhi office of the National Human Rights Commission have also met with civil society representatives to discuss ways to prevent the people from falling into the traps of frauds like Ram Bahadur who make their living by claiming to be healers.