Witch-Hunting Experiences in Jharkhand: Scope for Mental Health Interventions

Since the 16th century, witch-hunting has been more prevalent among many European countries and spread across other countries worldwide. In most cases, poor, working-class, widowed, and older women were considered witches. ¹ In a few countries like Ireland, France, Russia, Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland, witch-hunting was legally sanctioned in the 1300s and continued in Europe until the 18th century. ² However, the practice of witch-hunting has been regarded as a criminal accusation and violation of human rights after the Enlightenment period, even though in this 21st century, such practices are prevailing in developing countries like India, South Africa, and other underdeveloped countries. ³

In India, witch-hunting is more prevalent in 12 states, including lower-income states such as Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, etc. It is as a dynamic, multi-layered entity with significant implications for the survivors’ daily life, including physical and mental health. ⁴ According to a UN report, between 1987 and 2003, almost 25,000 cases related to witch-hunting were recorded in India. ⁵ Also, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data shows that between 2001 and 2020, in Jharkhand, 590 people, mostly women, were murdered on alleged charges of practicing witchcraft. ⁶ “As per civil societies, there have been over 1800 murders in Jharkhand in the past 18 years, indicating a woman was lynched every third day in the name of witch hunting.” ⁷ Most of the rural population in India, especially in Jharkhand, still believes in the existence of witches. They still carry out witch-hunting practices towards the women branded as a witch and even towards their family members. Those survivors are also exacted through social boycotts and humiliation. At times, witch-hunting survivors were made to stay 50 to 60 km away from their homeland. ⁸ Their family members also undergo stigma and rejections from the society, which also affects the psychosocial functioning of the victims as well as their family members. Such a practice is ardent among the poor, ignorant, and many educated people. ⁹

In India, social media also plays an indirect role in impounding such evil beliefs across the population. Indian movies such as Ek thi Dayan (2013), Stree (2018), Roohi (2021),^9–11 etc., projected women as witches, snakes, ghosts, and much more. Similarly, in reality, superstitious beliefs and paucity of connectivity with mainstream society are the major cause for witch hunting. ¹² Such evil practices are mainly carried out by the dominant and influential groups who further encourage the strategic attempt of persecuting and threatening the victims with severe punishment or death. ¹³ Such humiliating incidents in the victim’s life pave the way for several mental and emotional upheavals that leave deep scars in their lives. ¹⁴ The mental health aspects of the victims and their family members are still not well researched, as they are undergoing massive post-traumatic stress, depression, and various other psychological issues associated with them due to the evil punishments by the villagers. Hence, keeping such traumatic experiences in view, professional mental health interventions are required to address their mental health needs.