The Nilagiri police arrested Purosattam Singh (31) for beheading his fellow villager Dukha Singh (60) suspecting him of sorcery on Wednesday.
The murder took place at Baghajanta village under Arabandha gram panchayat under Nilgiri block.After beheading the victim, the accused surrendered before the local police with the severed head and the chopper used in the crime.After getting information Sub Divisional Police Officer, SR Mahapatra and other senior police officials rushed to the site and sent the body for autopsy.During interrogation police could learn that, besides Purusottam, his relatives and some of their neighbours had tried to kill Dukha since last two months.They suspected that due to the victim they were regularly falling sick, mainly suffering from fever very often.
“The accused and his family members had consulted a sorcerer of another village who pointed fingers towards Dukha Singh and four others, lalmohan Singh, Badal Singh, Nalu Singh and Ruhya Singh. In this regard a meeting was convened in the village in presence of the Dukha. Then the committee finding all of them guilty directed them to quit the practice and pay a penalty of Rs 500 each,” sources said.Dukha, however, declined to pay the amount for which accused Purusottam threatened him and his sons of dire consequences.Following which, Dukha had approached the police and later the dispute was settled.