DIBRUGARH, June 30 - �Brothers�, a pan-India social organisation in collaboration with Andhashraddha Nirmulan Sammittee of Maharashtra today conducted an awareness meet on superstitious beliefs, witchcraft, rumours, fake news, godman (baba), quack, monkey man, oily man and child lifters etc., among the Gaonburhas (village heads), village defence party (VDP) and the police of the district at the Police Reserve here.
Human rights and social activist Dibyajyoti Saikia, the secretary general of Brothers talked at length about the social evils prevailing in the society due to lack of awareness.
�There is no witch, no ghost, no monkey man, no oily man or any evil powers. These are just blind beliefs instilled into the minds of the people. It largely prevails amongst the uneducated lot,� said Saikia.
He urged upon the Gaonburhas and the VDP members to be alert about such beliefs, practices and particularly against rumour mongers.
�You must play a significant role in curbing superstitious beliefs and dousing any eventuality in your area. You must create awareness and ensure that no law and order problem breaks out due to blind beliefs or fake news, etc,� said Saikia.
Sahaji Bhosle of Andhashraddha Nirmulan Sammittee of Maharashtra demonstrated some of the tricks adopted by so- called godmen and quacks to lure believers. He unravelled secrets behind some common tricks which he said people consider as miracles and supernatural powers of the godmen and quacks.
Superintendent of Police Gautam Borah while addressing the assembly said that superstitious practices, blind beliefs, witch and babas are nothing but man-created concepts, thought and fear.
He therefore called upon the village heads and VDP members to immediately alert the police in case anything of such nature was prevalent in their villages. The awareness meeting was also attended, among others, by Additional Superintendent of Police Surajeet Singh Panesar and Deputy Superintendent of Police Dr Pradip Saikia.
