NHRC notice to the Kerala government over reported human sacrifice of two missing women in the state

New Delhi, 15th October, 2022

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that two Kerala women, reported missing to the police by their families three months apart, became the victims of human sacrifice in a bizarre ritual orchestrated by a self styled voodoo man professing to bring luck to a couple facing financial problem. Both the victims were bound by a common profession of selling lottery tickets.

The Commission has observed that such incidents cannot be expected in a civilized society where a human being is killed by another in the name of a ritual without any fear of law. The Right to Life of both the victims has been grossly violated. The state, being the guardian of its citizens, is responsible for their safety and cannot escape its liability to protect them from such evil practices.

Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Kerala calling for a report in the matter within 4 weeks, including status of the investigation of the case and compensation, if any , paid to the families of the victims.

According to the media reports, both the women were lottery sellers. The missing report about the one of them was filed way back on 06.06.2022 and the other on 26.09.2022. It is mentioned in the news report that both the murders might have been committed on the same date.

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