Thirty eight-year-old Preeti Kumar of Begusarai, Bihar, says, “The cause of branding women as witches and killing them is socio-economic rather than superstitious. It has to do with land-grabbing, property disputes, personal rivalry and resistance to sexual advances. But this truth has yet to emerge. People still believe it is acceptable to kill women in this monstrous fashion. We are at present networking with 500 organisations in 15 districts of Bihar to spread awareness on the practice that has a firm hold despite a legal ban.”