Witch-hunt: 10 arrested in Sundergarh

Rourkela: After the gruesome murder of a woman, accused of practising witchcraft, police arrested ten persons in connection with the incident that was reported at Ratakhandi village under Biramitrapur Tehsil in Sundargarh district.

The 52-year-old woman, Jashoda Singh, was beaten to death by a mob on suspicion of practising witchcraft in the village late on Friday night.

A mob of about 20 people had attacked Jashoda, her husband and son with sticks and wooden planks for allegedly practising ‘black magic’ in the village. They had dragged Jashoda out of the house and later assaulted her. The mob also thrashed Jashoda’s husband and son when they tried to save her.

"Jashoda Singh died on the spot while her husband and son were critically injured and are undergoing treatment. We have registered a case based on report filed by a family member and the investigation is underway. Ten persons involved in the murder have been arrested," said IIC of Biramitrapur police station, Debiprasad Das.