<p>Jharkhand tops the list with 50-60 witchcraft-related murders every year followed by Andhra Pradesh where the number is around 30, Haryana 25-30 and Orissa 24-28, Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK) Chairman Avdhash Kaushal claimed.<br /><br />Jharkhand is not the only state where women are facing barbaric attacks in the name of witchcraft, such incidents are common in Orissa, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana, Kaushal said.<br /><br />In past 15 years, more than 2,500 women were killed after being accused of practicing witchcraft, according to a study conducted by RLEK.<br /><br />Five women were stripped and paraded naked last year in Patharghatia village in Deodhar district of Jharkhand.<br /><br />In yet another incident, a 40-year old woman was lynched allegedly by her women neighbours at Sikariatand village in Simdega district of the same state, Kushal claimed.<br />"It is very sad that women are still being killed rampantly after being declared witches. Majority of these incidents are not reported in the media," Kaushal, a recipient of Padam Shri, said.<br /><br />He said in order to overcome the menace a national legislation was needed.<br />"We will soon file a writ petition in the court of law to seek a remedy in the form of a new legislation from Parliament on the issue," he said.</p>
<p>Jharkhand tops the list with 50-60 witchcraft-related murders every year followed by Andhra Pradesh where the number is around 30, Haryana 25-30 and Orissa 24-28, Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK) Chairman Avdhash Kaushal claimed.<br /><br />Jharkhand is not the only state where women are facing barbaric attacks in the name of witchcraft, such incidents are common in Orissa, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana, Kaushal said.<br /><br />In past 15 years, more than 2,500 women were killed after being accused of practicing witchcraft, according to a study conducted by RLEK.<br /><br />Five women were stripped and paraded naked last year in Patharghatia village in Deodhar district of Jharkhand.<br /><br />In yet another incident, a 40-year old woman was lynched allegedly by her women neighbours at Sikariatand village in Simdega district of the same state, Kushal claimed.<br />"It is very sad that women are still being killed rampantly after being declared witches. Majority of these incidents are not reported in the media," Kaushal, a recipient of Padam Shri, said.<br /><br />He said in order to overcome the menace a national legislation was needed.<br />"We will soon file a writ petition in the court of law to seek a remedy in the form of a new legislation from Parliament on the issue," he said.</p>