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In this paper, we shall examine some major religious roles for women in West Bengal, India, and the challenges they must face. Among the Santals, an Adivasi group, religious women must avoid being called witches, for women's power is seen as dangerous and religious social roles are traditionally forbidden to them. Some women have been called by deities to become trance mediums, colloquially known as 'bhar ladies', and this role is generally not accepted by family members. Girls have had to undergo exorcisms by male healers to get them to renounce the gods that have called them to this role, while married women must deal with husbands who do not want their wives going into public trances. Many such women have learned tantric practices to control the trance possession. In rural areas, the combination of ascetic practices and stories known as bratas (vratas) are taught to young girls by female leaders called ayes. However, in more urban areas, this role has been taken over by male brahmin priests. We also see women in the bhakti tradition, who run ashrams and lead worship and who must deal with male devotees who question a woman's leadership abilities. All of these involve challenges, and many of these women have developed strategies to deal with the difficulties of being a religious influencer in their societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mob Lynching is an emerging trend as a new Crime in the shade of mob violence all over the country. Being a part of India, in Assam people belong to different cultural groups, linguistic groups, caste, community and religious groups use to live together with the feeling of unity, integrity and fraternity. In Assam like other parts of the country, 'Mob Lynch' is the term which becomes much familiar to the people of the region because every now and then it has been highlighted through the available Electronic Media of the State that some person(s) is/are being killed by a mob violence on suspicion of Child Lifter or Witch hunting etc.; Villagers lynched to death a women on suspect of that she is practicing Black Magic and a Witch; a Boy lynched to death in a place where he went to meet his relatives etc. many other such cases occurred which is nothing but a curse of the modern society. Assam has registered huge number of Mob Lynching cases every year in the state like Honour Killings, Witch Hunting, on suspicion of Child Lifters, on Communal riots, Pickpockets, Thefts etc. 'Mob' is an English term which means 'uncontrolled group of people' and 'Lynch' is an American term which means 'award of punishment to the wrong doers without any legal trial or proceedings'. According to the Data available of the Government of Assam during 2011-2019 shows that there were 107 persons killed in Witch Hunting incidents in the state. The present study aims to understand and explain what is Mob Lynching? What are the causes of lynching? What are the available legal provisions and laws to deal with such type of cases? What are the preventive and remedial measures that have been adopted by the state government and other Agencies and NGOs including the various Legal proceedings of the High Courts and the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]