Witch craft still haunts women in Nepal: Laxmi couldn't escape her death

Laxmi Pariyar of Sano Bangthali-7, Kavre was tortured with feces and beaten to death for accusations of practicing witchcraft on Friday. A complaint was filed by laxmi brother on Sunday 11th December 2016.

According to filed police report, "Laxmi Pariyar was a 32 years old woman who was tied with ropes, beaten and fed with feces by locals Hira Lama and his mother Kaili Tamang on December 5. She was  reportedly found dead under mysterious circumstances.  Her body was found about 200 meters away from her home in a shed of Ram Bahadur Upreti. Locals informed the police after discovering the body."

On preliminary examination, Laxmi had bruises under her right eye, forehead, and traces of bloods from her nose. Her dead body has been sent to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) in the capital for post mortem.

Every year hundreds of cases of women being killed or tortured are registered where the state has enforced law against VAW but still due to lack proper awareness people act against the law.

Though various efforts are being done in the name of awareness and VAW but every now and then there seems to a new laxmi coming up with the issues of justice and her outcry of pain.
The case of laxmi is among thousands who suffered the ill fate of being accused of witch or bokshi where major of such cases are witnessed and enacted by educated people. Until and unless women break this orthodox and prejudices by speaking and working together things doesn't seems to be changing.  I think women have to step up and lead the process of fighting against this battle against VAW.