As many as ten persons of a village of Sundargarh district were arrested on Sunday in the much publicised murder of a 60-year-old woman under sorcery plea.
The incident happened on Friday evening at Ratakhandi village under Kuanrmunda police station.
The police claimed some more arrests are to be made as about four other persons wanted in this case are still absconding. The husband and the son of the deceased woman are under treatment in the Rourkela Government Hospital and according to hospital sources, their conditions are stable.
Sources said at about 8,30 pm on Friday, a group of about 15 persons of Ratakhandi village, armed with several weapons like iron rod, choppers and wooden sticks had barged into the house of one Phagu Singh (65) and had attacked his wife Jasoda Singh (60). The reason of their attack was reportedly based on their allegation that Jasoda had been practicing witchcraft and putting the locals life in danger.
While the agitated locals launched a brutal attack on Jasoda, her husband Phagu and son Kailash Singh (30) had tried to rescue her but, the agitated locals also launched an attack on them and left all three in critically injured condition. While Jasoda's daughter Banita, who lives in neighbouring village with her in-laws, rushed all three injured to the Rourkela Government Hospital, Jasoda was declared brought dead and Phagu and Kailash were admitted in critical condition.
According to police sources, all arrested persons are native of Ratakhandi village and they had record of previous enmity.