Sambalpur, April 24: A human rights activist has sought intervention of the State Human Rights Commission in a matter in which members of two families were allegedly forced to consume human excreta in Deogarh district.

Prabir Das, a human rights activist, has sent a petition to the Human Rights Commission on Saturday in the matter.

Das said: “I was shocked to know about this incident. It is beyond my imagination that a man could be treated in such brutal manner. I have appealed to the commission for suo moto intervention in this matter and sent a petition to it as well.”

Das, in his petition, has sought protection of the victimised families and proper probe into the matter. “Lack of awareness, education and health services in those areas are the reasons behind this kind of incident,” he said.

“This incident has again made the social scientists and activists think. They need to find a way to eradicate superstitions such as black magic and sorcery from society,” Das said.

The incident took place at Sunamunda village of Deogarh district. According to police, members of two families at Sunamunda village had allegedly been forced by the villagers to consume human excreta on April 17. The incident took place when three girls of the village had behaved in an abnormal way and refrained from appearing for the Class X examination. Villagers held Madhu Rana and Iswar Majhi responsible for this incident and accused them of performing black magic on the girls.

In another development, three accused — Jadumani Thakur, Panu Sahu and Putu Kargaj — were arrested and booked under Section 333, 394, 294, 506,385, 34, 384 and 365 of IPC, said investigating officer Kapilabasi Mohapatra.

“The victimised families had left the village after the incident but would come back. We have stepped up patrolling to ensure protection to them,” Mohapatra said.

“This is not the first time that such a superstition-driven incident has taken place in Deogarh. In 2005, a couple was forced to consume human excreta at Goppur,” a local resident said.

“Coercive action against the accused is not the solution. Social scientists, activists and the government should come forward to instill the scientific temper in society,” said Das.