Definitions

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,- (a) “witch” means a woman, locally known as “Dayan”, “Dakan”, “Dakin” or otherwise, who has been identified by any person or persons believing her to be in possession of, or as having, any evil power for causing any harm to any person or property; (b) “witch craft” means use of supernatural or magical power with evil intention to call up spirit or cast spell or discover the whereabouts of stolen goods and includes such other similar practices which are known as “Tona-Totaka”, “Tantra-Mantra”, “Jadu-Tona”, “Jhad-Phunk” or the like; (c) “witch doctor” means a person who is locally known as “Gunia”, “Ojha”, “Tantrik” or otherwise and claims that he has supernatural or magical power to control or cure a witch or performs any ritual purportedly to free a woman from evil spirit; (d) “witch-hunting” means any act or conduct on the part of any person,- (i) identifying, accusing or defaming a woman as a witch; (ii) harassing, harming or injuring such woman whether mentally or physically or by damaging her property; and (e) words and expressions used but not defined in this Act and de-fined in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act No. 2 of 1974) or the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Central Act No. 45 of 1860) shall have the meanings assigned to them respectively in those Codes.