In another such example of superstition, a youth allegedly killed his maternal aunt on suspicion of practising witchcraft at Kantala village under Gayalmunda panchayat in the district on Thursday evening. The deceased was identified as Jhinki Purti. When Jhinki was returning to her house, accused Ankura Birua hacked her with a sharp weapon killing her on the spot.
On receiving information, police reached the spot and recovered the body. Later, the accused surrendered before the police. The cops arrested Ankura after registering a case and are interrogating him in this connection. Notably, the witchcraft-related violence toll in the State was 39 in 2018, 36 in 2017 and 58 in 2016. The tribal dominated pockets of Sundargarh, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Keonjhar and Nuapada districts are worst hit by witchcraft violence with these districts accounting for more than 70 per cent of cases registered in 2018, police sources said.
