The Jana Vignana Vedika (JVV), a social service organisation which has been making constant efforts to popularise science while fighting superstition in society, has offered Rs.5 lakh prize money to anyone who could prove that black magic or witchcraft was for real.
Inaugurating a magic show featuring different feats to disprove the witchcraft before the railway station here on Sunday, JVV district president Koyidi Narsimhulu appealed to the people not to believe practices that have no base in science and are performed by those who profess to be godmen.
“Unfortunately superstitions have been prevalent and strong in Telangana’s districts. They often lead to clashes and torture of persons by caste groups and others. When people don’t believe the practices taking place in the name of witchcraft, the villages in a way remain peaceful,” he added.
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Superintendent of Police S. Chandrashekar Reddy assured JVV activists of all possible help from the police machinery in fight against superstition.
He said the police would take prompt action if anyone was being harassed or tortured in the name of voodoo magic.
It looks strange that some believe witchcraft in a modern age when science and technology have made rapid strides, he said.
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Demonstration
Later, the JVV activists made a godwoman ‘sit’ in air, boiled tea on the head of a girl, made a boy lie on nails and also took out snacks from boiling oil with bare hands.
They even made Mr.Chandrashekar Reddy do the same with his hands. Ten such feats displayed by them left the gathering and train travellers spellbound.
They said such tricks, which had their basis in science, could easily be performed by all with a little practice.
However, the illiterate and uneducated in rural areas believed them to be voodoo magic. JVV honorary president P. Ram Mohan Rao, neuro-psychiatrist A. Vishal and others were also present.
Jana Vignana Vedika appealed to the people not to believe practices that have no base in science