Mere talk on women development won't help: Former DCW chief tells Nitish

Dubbing the Darbhanga incident where a women was allegedly beaten and forced to drink her urine after being branded as a 'witch' as unfortunate, former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Barkha Shukla Singh on Monday urged Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to ask the elected legislators of the state to make endeavours with regard to development of women in Bihar.

Asserting that mere talking of empowering women will not help, Singh said it is shameful that in today's time such incidents are taking place.

"It is very unfortunate that in 21st century people in our villages are practicing such things and believe in all these superstitious things. If such incidents are taking place at a time when we are calling ourselves the fastest developing country then it is very shameful. It is very saddening that four men beat a woman and is forced to drink her urine," said Singh.

"I would like to appeal the Nitish government to direct all the local representatives to look in to the development of the constituencies from where they have won. Mere talking of women development and empowerment is of no use, if actions are not taken then everything goes in vain. Moreover, the defaulters should be nabbed and heavily punished," she added.

A Dalit woman, Arti Devi, was allegedly beaten up and forced to drink her urine on Thursday by four men after being branded as a "witch" in Bihar's Pipra village, alleging that she practiced witchcraft.

An FIR has been lodged against one of the accused, Domu Yadav, and five members of his family.