Assault on woman: Himachal HC issues notice, NCW seeks speedy probe

Shimla/New Delhi, November 11 

Taking suo motu cognisance, the Himachal Pradesh High Court on Monday directed the government to file a status report in a case related to torture of an elderly woman on the suspicion of being a witch even as the National Commission for Women sought a speedy probe.

A Division Bench of the Chief Justice L. Narayana Swamy and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua passed the order while treating media reports as a public interest litigation.

According to the media, an 80-year-old woman was thrashed and paraded with blackface and a shoe garland in Samahal village in Sarkaghat of Mandi district, on suspicion that she practised black magic.

Twenty-one people have been arrested, police said on Sunday.

It was also reported that she was threatened to face the wrath of local deity in case she approached the police to file a complaint.

The HC bench listed the matter for next hearing on November 18.  

Reacting to news reports about the incident, the NCW wrote a letter to the Himachal Director General of Police saying it is seriously concerned about the safety and security of women and is perturbed by the alleged incident.

“Considering the gravity of the matter, I request you to ensure swift and speedy investigation in the matter and send a detailed action-taken report to the Commission at an early date,” NCW member Shyamala S Kunder said in the letter. — Agencies