Cuttack: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an action taken report (ATR) within two weeks from the Malkangiri district magistrate and superintendent of police over an alleged lynching of a 50-year-old Scheduled Caste (SC) woman who was branded a “witch” by a sorcerer.The commission issued the direction on Sept 1 on a complaint filed by Jeypore-based human rights activist and advocate Anup Kumar Patro.According to the complaint, Padma Nayak of Sardaguda village under Somnathpur panchayat was allegedly beaten to death on May 23 after two villagers died of unexplained medical reasons. The complaint alleged that instead of seeking medical assistance, villagers called a sorcerer from Kotpad area.Patro has sought Rs 10 lakh in interim compensation for the son of the lynched woman, alleging that her death resulted from “state negligence”.He also sought immediate arrest of all perpetrators, including the alleged fortune-teller and those who conspired or facilitated the killing, besides police protection for the victim’s family.The NHRC has forwarded a copy of the complaint to the two officials, asking them to take appropriate action and submit a report within two weeks of receiving the communication.The complaint alleged that the incident exposed a failure of the local administration to prevent the social evil despite the Odisha Prevention of Witch-hunting Act, 2013.Describing the incident as a “horrific, medieval, and inhuman” act, the complaint alleged that the authorities failed to gather intelligence about the alleged witch-hunt assembly and prevent the mob attack.The sorcerer allegedly organised a village assembly, distributed “prasad” and publicly branded Padma as a witch, holding her responsible for the deaths. Subsequently, the sons of the two deceased villagers allegedly assaulted her on a public road. She died of her injuries before she could receive medical treatment, the complainant said, adding that a police complaint was registered by her son, Ganesh Nayak.