New Delhi 3 June 2004

The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo-motu cognizance of a news item captioned "Woman paraded naked" which appeared in a national daily on 30th May, 2004 wherein it was reported that a tribal woman Newni, was paraded naked in Tainsara village under Brahamanai Tarang police in Sundergarh district of Orissa on the suspicion of being a witch.
According to the press report, the hapless woman who had gone to the house of another person in the village Sukhi Ekka, looking for her son was dragged into the village street and undressed by the crowd which had gathered following the uproar created by Sukhi Ekka's family. The crowd forced Newni to eat human excreta and later made an unsuccessful attempt to hang her from a tree. She survived because the rope they were trying to hang her with gave way.
Passing the orders, Chairperson Dr. Justice A.S.Anand said that if the allegations are true, they disclose a serious case of violation of human rights and an affront to the dignity of the woman.
The copy of the press report has been sent to the Chief Secretary, Government of Orissa for comments within 4 weeks.

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