Goa was struck by seven crimes on Wednesday. A tantrik was arrested for raping a minor girl at Colvale, there were two kidnapping cases reported at Fatorda police station, a body of an infant was found in a dustbin at Baina,Vasco, a minor was thrown into a well by his uncle at Curtorim, an attempt to murder was reported on a resident from Vagator and a body of a tourist was found inside a Karnataka-registered car, in Panaji. While the crimes are not connected, and each had its own scary story, the case of the tantrik shook the collective conscience of the State.
In a script that comes straight from the screens of Bollywood, a woman is reported to have “offered” her minor daughter to the tantrik who promised the girl to fulfil “all her wishes in life”. Police sources have revealed that the tantrik, nicknamed “baba”, was a practitioner of witchcraft and the woman a victim of “black magic”. Sadly, the mother had fallen prey to the “baba” and has even allowed her daughter to be raped repeatedly in her presence. This is not only inhuman but a very serious criminal offence.
The issue of fake godmen indulging in black magic comes at a time when the government has gone on a witch-hunt by ruthlessly targetting a few on allegations of forced religious conversions and even invoking the Drugs and Magic Remedies laws. Unfortunately, a more serious religion-connected issue that has been in practice for decades which not only tarnishes religion but also brings down the faith of many, has been completely ignored.
Goa may have had its first major encounter with a tantrik, but across India, some of the most revered godmen have often ended up in controversies and have been charged with sexual exploitation, prostitution rackets and even murders and some are serving jail terms. One cannot, however, weigh all godmen and babas on one scale. Amid notoriety and sins of a few, there have been some that have earned global acclaim and have had a massive following for their spirituality and preachings.
Black magic, ‘gaddi’ (in local language) and witchcraft have been practised throughout Goa by some, misleading sensitive citizens into ill-founded and wrong beliefs. Instead of showing an unnecessary urgency in cracking down on “forced religious conversions”, the government must first reign in on those playing mischief in the name of religion and promoting black-magic and supernatural beliefs. These are not only belittling religious souls, but taking the faithful to a wrong road of divinity leaving the faith blemished. Also, for such acts of a few, all babas will have to face a level of discomfort and suspicion.
In the Thivim case, the life of an innocent girl has been sacrificed on the altar of religion, and the system has been completely clueless till the father of the girl complained. The reluctance to put godmen under the scanner is perhaps due to the mass following they have, but we can’t be mute spectators to such crimes against women happening in the name of religion or some magic beliefs. The line has to be drawn. The Thivim incident should be an eye-opener and proof enough to explain the level people can stoop to in pursuing beliefs.
