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The Inhuman Cost of Superstitions
This is in response to Sarath Sasikumar and Balu Sunilraj’s editorial comment, “Sociopolitical Reading of a Tragedy in Kerala” (EPW, 22 October 2022), which scrutinised the instance of human sacrifice in Kerala from a political standpoint, calling into question the leftist social fabric of the state. Alarmed by this incident, more cases of disappearances have been brought to light by the locals, which they feel may be connected to the same phenomenon.
This is in response to Sarath Sasikumar and Balu Sunilraj’s editorial comment, “Sociopolitical Reading of a Tragedy in Kerala” (EPW, 22 October 2022), which scrutinised the instance of human sacrifice in Kerala from a political standpoint, calling into question the leftist social fabric of the state. Alarmed by this incident, more cases of disappearances have been brought to light by the locals, which they feel may be connected to the same phenomenon. To address the same issue as a continuing dialogue, it should be examined from a legal redressal standpoint and crime resolution framework.
Superstitions, black magic, voodoo, and witchcraft are words heard of not just in movies or fictitious tales but are a part and parcel of the lives of many around the world, especially in India. Often, these beliefs push human beings into performing some extremely heinous crimes. According to the Crime in India 2021 report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh reported a large number of murders with witchcraft as the motive. Similarly, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala had reported a number of instances of child/human sacrifice.
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