SrijutSarbananda Sonowal ChiefMinister,
Governmentof Assam, CM Block,Janata Bhawan, Dispur, Assam 781006 Subject: The Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition andProtection) Bill, 2015 Sir, We wouldalso like to bring your urgent attention for the need of Anti -Witchcraft Act.Bihar was the first state in India to pass the prevention of Witch (dayan)Practices Act of 1999. Jharkhand followed with an Anti -Witchcraft Act in 2001.Unfortunately, there is no such law yet in Assam and there is no legal measureto punish offenders. Since there is no separate anti-witch hunting law inAssam, the accused are booked under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Itis often treated as a routine crime case where the culprit is not brought tojustice. At present there is a crucialneed to use the legal system to battle crime against witch hunting. Suchincidents are happening even today. We, a few nonresidentAssamese, have been supporting crusader Birubala Rabha on her tireless effort. WahidSaleh, the recipient of the Dutch knighthood and Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, earlier wrote a letter on this issue ( attached). An article , by theundersigned , was also published in Assam Tribune which had been prepared withinputs from noted author Indrani RaiMedhi and Shri Preetom Saikia, IAS.Commissioner and. Secretary. Department of. Elementary. Education. Governmentof. Assam. ( attached) AssamAssembly, passed a Bill in the year 2015to end witch-hunting. However, the bill is yet to become a law waiting forclearance from Central Government. There is a news item published on September22 about Ministry of Home Affairs referring back some of its provisions to the StateGovernment for review. We urge theGovernment of Assam to press on with the Central government and bring an end tothe diabolical incidents of witch hunting. Thanks andwe would appreciate a response Ankur Bora Dallas ,Texas , USA
