Locals resent dismantling of witch-hunt victims’ memorial

Keonjhar: A memorial erected at the Keonjhar SP’s office to honour innocent women killed on suspicion of witchcraft was recently dismantled, sparking resentment among locals.Police officials justified the dismantling, citing a shortage of space on the SP office premises. However, residents strongly criticised the move, arguing that the memorial served as the vital purpose of raising awareness against the deeply rooted social evil of witch-hunting.The memorial, a 7-ft granite statue of a woman, was inaugurated on Feb 27, 2019, by former DGP R P Sharma in the presence of the then SP (Keonjhar) J N Pankaj.

It stood as a reminder of the brutal consequences of superstition and blind faith, while also serving as an effort by the district police to sensitise people against branding anyone as a witch. The names of several witch-hunt victims were inscribed on the memorial wall.“The initiative aimed to change public perception, prevent witch-hunting, and restore dignity of victims and their families, who often faced social ostracisation on mere suspicion of practising black magic,” said P N Mohanty, a local businessman.

Former MLA and tribal leader Subarna Naik expressed shock at the dismantling. “The memorial was strategically placed at the SP’s office to draw the attention of visitors. It served as an awareness tool in tribal-dominated Keonjhar district. We are astonished why such a unique memorial was removed,” Naik said.Echoing similar sentiments, tribal leader Sanjay Giri from Banspal demanded its reinstallation. Locals alleged that the dismantled statue was left neglected in a corner of the reserve ground. “During the peak of witch-hunting cases in Keonjhar, awareness measures like the memorial played a crucial role in containing the menace,” he said. Additional superintendent of police Snehasish Sahu said: “The memorial was shifted to the police reserve line premises due to lack of space at the district police office where it was initially built.

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