MOGA – On the last day of her police remand, former head priest of Harmandir Sahib, Giani Jagtar Singh led a group of villagers in demolishing the structure used by sarpanch Pal Kaur to practice exorcism, on Monday. The Bhinder Kalan village sarpanch had killed her 10-year-old niece by hitting her with hot tongs to rid her of “evil spirits” on August 22.
While the rationalist society is organizing a social congregation at the village to spread message against superstitions, the education department is planning scientific shows across schools in Punjab. A campaign has also been started to make people boycott sorcerers.
Pal, her husband Darbara Singh and two others has now been remanded in judicial custody.
“Such deras, samadhis, which spread exorcism have no place in our society,” said Jagtar Singh. “We are organizing a social congregation on September 1, to help people adopt scientific approach. Exorcists do not only loot the poor, but also kill the innocent to prove their celestial powers,” added Tarksheel Society founder Megh Raj Mittar.
District education officer Mewa Singh claimed that although the school education department is going ahead with programmes to check superstition, it has decided to work more vigorously in rural areas.
