Odisha killings: NHRC issues notice to district admin, police

The National Human Rights Commission today issued notice to the District Magistrate and SP of Keonjhar in Odisha over alleged killing of six members of a family, who were accused of practising witchcraft.
Taking suo motu cognizance of media reports, the commission asked the district administration to submit the report in two weeks, the NHRC said in a release.
Six members of a family, suspected of practising witchcraft, were allegedly hacked to death while two were seriously injured by some residents of Mundashahi village on July 12.
The deceased comprised the head of the family, Gura Munda, his wife, two daughters and two sons.

The commission observed that the contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the victim and his family.
The Odisha government has handed over the case to the crime branch. Several villagers have been arrested for their suspected involvement in the killings.