BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh government came in for severe criticism for its dismal performance to check human sacrifices in the state.
The issue was raised in the Assembly through an adjournment motion by the Bharatiya Janata Party members.
The latest of the three incidents reported in the state during last one year had taken place on September 4 when a 15 year old girl, Rekha, was sacrificed by her uncle in Neemuch town in Mandsaur district,
Bherulal Patidar assailed the Government for its inaction in such a grave matter while it kept clamoring about the march towards 21st century.
The Deputy Home Minister Vijay Dubey, told the House that a case had been registered by the Neemuch police against Rekha’s uncle, Tarachand.
Official reports said Tarachand had invited Rekha from Nimbaheda in neighboring Rajasthan in the hope of getting cured ofa protracted illness. According to Rekha’s family, she was possessed by spirits which they thought would cure Tarachand. Tarachand and Rekha remained closeted in the prayer room for some hours, Later Rekha was found beheaded. Tarachand admitted having beheaded her niece at her own suggestion, He said Rekha had assured him that he would be cured and she herself would “regain” life after a few hours. Another uncle of Rekha reported the matter to the police when Rekha “failed to come alive.” The Minister said the matter was being investigated.
Regarding the other two incidents, the Minister said one Jamuna Prasad, who had sacrificed his Seven year old son in Narsinghpur district in November last year, had been sentenced for life.
In another case in which a child’s body was found near a well in Sehora town on September 24 last year, the culprits have not been traced so far. The matter is still under investigation, the Minister informed,
The BJP members demanded that penal provisions should be made deterrent to effectively check the crime.
The speaker Rajendra Prasad Shukla, disallowed the adjournment motion.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 29, 1989
