5 hacked to death, burnt on suspicion of witchcraft

Five members of a tribal family, including three women, were allegedly hacked to death and their bodies burnt on suspicion of practising witchcraft in Purnea district of Bihar, police said on Monday, adding that two people have been detained for questioning in connection with the incident.

- Aditya Nath Jha

The incident took place late on Sunday night at Tetma village, under the Muffasil police station area, and the police managed to recover the partially burnt bodies of the victims on Monday evening, officers said.

“Prima facie the incident appears to have been committed in the dispute over witchcraft practising which is still rampant among the community [members],” the office of Purnea superintendent of police (SP) said in a statement. Tetma is predominantly a tribal-dominated village.