India: Witch Hunts Rampant Despite Laws: Study

2nd December: Years after special laws have been introduced to combat the crime, witch hunts continue unabated. Between the years 2010-12, Chhattisgarh saw 51 such cases while Bihar and Jharkhand witnessed 26 and 9 incidents respectively, says a fresh field study conducted in these three states. Many of these cases are rooted in property disputes, the study further points out, adding that a host of factors such as lack of healthcare, community pressure and poor prosecution have hindered efforts to end the social menace. Read more here.