Dumka: A 55-year-old woman was allegedly beaten to death by her neighbour on the suspicion of practising witchcraft at Dumrasol village in the district on Monday evening. The deceased was identified as Pakku Hembrom.
Police on Tuesday said that accused Munshi Tudu, 35, has been arrested. “He believed that Pakku was responsible for his misfortunes, including his inability to become a father,” said a police officer.
Police said that Munshi claimed that as they had no child after three years of marriage, his wife left him. His father also died last year. Munshi believed that he had to face these situations due to black magic performed by Pakku, the police added.
With the intention to eliminate her, Munshi called the woman to his house on the pretext of some discussion, and then assaulted her with a stick, killing her on the spot, police said.
“Upon receiving information from the village guard, police rushed to the spot and apprehended the accused before he could flee. The weapon used in the crime has been recovered,” officer in-charge (OC) of Muffassil police station, Laurensia Kerketta, said.
“The killing was driven by superstition and suspicion of witchcraft. A case has been registered and the accused has been sent to jail. The body has been sent for postmortem examination,” he said.
