Real Witches or Real Victims

Witch Hunting: A Medieval Curse in the 21st Century

Jharkhand, a mineral-rich but socio-economically backward state in eastern India, has witnessed some of the worst atrocities in the name of witchcraft. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), over 590 people—mostly women—have been killed in witch-hunting related cases across India between 2013 and 2022, and Jharkhand alone accounts for more than 160 of those deaths. These numbers only represent reported cases; many more go undocumented due to fear, silence, or complicity.

Victims are often widows, single women, or those with land or property disputes. A woman may be accused of witchcraft if a neighbor falls ill, crops fail, or livestock die. The accusation becomes a convenient weapon to socially ostracize, torture, or eliminate her. The horror stories are chilling—women stripped, paraded naked, beaten to death, or forced to consume human waste. Survivors carry deep physical and psychological scars, and their children are left socially stigmatized and emotionally traumatized.

Children of victims often face exclusion from schools, bullying, and a generational loss of opportunity. Branded as "children of a witch," many drop out of education and live in fear and shame. For them, life becomes a continuous battle—not just for acceptance, but for survival.

Amidst this darkness, interventions like Open Horizon shine a ray of hope. By conducting coding camps and educational workshops in villages affected by witch hunting, Open Horizon helps break the cycle of stigma and illiteracy. Education equips children with critical thinking, digital skills, and the confidence to dream beyond the labels society has imposed on them. For many, it is the first step towards reclaiming dignity.

Empowering the next generation with knowledge is the most powerful antidote to superstition. Open Horizon not only creates safe spaces for learning but also helps these children see themselves as changemakers, not victims. Ending witch hunting will require legal reform, awareness, grassroots activism, and most importantly, education that fosters reason and compassion.