Khunti police on Thursday recovered highly decomposed bodies of three members of a family who were abducted about 21 days back and beheaded on suspicion of practising black magic.
Deceased were identified as Birsa Munda, his wife Sukru Purty and daughter Somwari Purty, natives of Kuda village under Soyklo police station area. Their bodies were dug out by the police near the bank of the Raba river under Soyko police station area.
“They were murdered on the charges of witchcraft. They were beheaded and the accused dumped them together in a ditch. We have information that nine accused had perpetrated this crime out of which three have been arrested namely Soma Munda, Raghu Munda and Vishram Munda. We are carrying out raids to arrest remaining accused. Accused during interrogation had disclosed about the place victims were buried. In the evening bodies were recovered and sent to hospital for post-mortem. Accused and victims hail from same village,” said Khunti SP Ashutosh Shekhar.
The SP said that about a month back a woman of the village died a few days after delivering a baby. Husband and family members of that deceased woman suspected Birsa, his wife and daughter have cast evil eyes upon her. SP said that the husband of that woman is among the nine accused.
On October 7, accused abducted Birsa, his wife and daughter and hacked them to death. However, police came to know about the abduction five days after Birsa’s other daughter Telani lodged an FIR at the police station.
Accused have now been booked under section 302 (murder), 362 (abduction) besides other relevant sections of IPC and Sections 3, 4, 5 of Prevention of Witchcraft Act.
Meanwhile, the BJP has expressed concern over rising number of murder cases related to witchcraft.
“In the last one week in Jharkhand as many as five cases of murder have taken place and all related to witchcraft. It is time for the Jharkhand government to wake and take strong action. Social welfare department and Jharkhand Police should do a social audit as to why such incidents have been taking place,” said former MLA and BJP spokesperson Kunal Sarangi.
