An old woman at Kardakudar village under lahunipada police station was killed on Tuesday night for allegedly practising witchcraft. Police arrested the assailant on Wednesday and sent the body for autopsy.
Sources said Naik Munda (28) of Kardakudar village has three children. However, his children fell ill and the illness prolonged for days together showing no sign of recovery. Soon, Naik suspected his neighbour Masuri Munda (65) to be playing a mischief by practising sorcery to keep his kids sick. On Tuesday night at around 8.30 pm, Naik barged into the house of Masuri and attacked her with an axe. He hit her chest and back with the axe following which Masuri died on the spot. On Wednesday morning lahunipada police got the information about the murder and after investigation arrested Naik.
Significantly, about nine months back, four persons of Ambapada village under Kialaga gram panchayat in Sundargarh district had been assaulted and paraded naked in the entire village on allegation of practising witchcraft.