Himachal HC issues notice on cruelty to elderly woman

Shimla, Nov 11 (IANS) Taking suo motu cognizance, the Himachal Pradesh High Court on Monday directed the government to file a status report in a case related to torture of an elderly woman on the suspicion of being a witch.A Division Bench of Chief Justice L. Narayana Swamy and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua passed the order while treating media reports as a public interest litigation.According to the media, an 80-year-old woman was thrashed and paraded with blackface and a shoe garland in Samahal village in Sarkaghat of Mandi district, on suspicion that she practised black magic.It was also reported that she was threatened to face the wrath of local deity in case she approached the police to file a complaint.The bench listed the matter for next hearing on November 18.
--IANS vg/skp/