By Nayak Paudel

Kathmandu, Oct. 31: Nepal Police data and recent cases have shown that crimes induced by superstitious beliefs are on the rise.
According to the data, 61 cases of witchcraft allegations and 39 cases of untouchability were recorded across the country in 2020/21.

Similarly, 34 cases of witchcraft allegations and 39 cases of untouchability were recorded in 2019/20. In 2018/19, that numbers were 43 and 45 respectively. “The cases of witchcraft allegations and untouchability often lead to violence against the victims. The law clearly allows punishment against such activities, but the superstitious beliefs are still practiced in the name of culture and traditions,” said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Basanta Bahadur Kunwar.

The data reveals that most cases of witchcraft allegations and untouchability are recorded from Province 2. Mostly women are found to be the victims, with some cases being children and men.
On Friday, a man, accused of being a warlock, was beaten and forced to eat human wastes in in Aurahi Municipality in Mahottari district, Province 2. He was accused by his neighbouring family of doing black magic because of which two of its members recently died within days.

The police have said that they have arrested some individuals in connection with the incident and started necessary investigation into the matter. While some victims are subjected to physical abuses, some are even killed in names of superstitious beliefs, said the police.

On Tuesday, a shaman killed his 34-year-old wife and 16-year-old daughter by biting them on their necks and other body parts in Ilam district. Identified as Purna Chandra Tamang, the local shaman described his activities as treatment method.
“Tamang’s activity showed the dire situation caused by superstitious beliefs in our society. The incident site is a developed place with educated individuals, but there were still many people in queue to receive treatment from Tamang,” said Superintendent of Police (SP) Mahendra Kumar Shrestha, chief of Ilam District Police.
Even youths have been found to be affected by the negative aspects of superstitious believes.

On September 10, the police found a dead body of 45-year-old Kamala Tamang in Ward No. 27 in Lalitpur Metropolitan City. After the Metropolitan Crime Division began the investigation, they arrested three individuals – 23-year-old Sabin Praja, 20-year-old Suman Magar and 18-year-old Prabin Praja Majhi – in the first week of October.
“The trio had killed Kamala by strangling her with a rope. They planned to sell the rope citing a superstitious belief that the rope costs millions of rupees. They killed Kamala only for the rope,” reads a statement issued by the Metropolitan Crime Division.

According to the police officers, more and more cases of superstitious beliefs are being recorded as many people are now becoming aware of the harms they inflict on the society and people are aware of the legal provisions against such social evils.
“That more and more such cases are being reported also shows prevalence of superstitious beliefs in the societies on path to enlightenment. It shows that there is still a lack of awareness campaigns and education against the detrimental impacts of superstitious beliefs,” said SSP Kunwar.