Keonjhar: Miscreants hacked a couple to death and brutally assaulted the latter’s children on suspicion of practising sorcery at Rangamatia village under Nayakote police limits of Keonjhar district.
The deceased were identified as Bhamia Pradhan (60) and his wife Gangi Pradhan (55). Police Wednesday rescued their son Mangal Singh Pradhan and daughter Sumitra Pradhan in critical condition as they were shot at with arrows.
Police detained three villagers who were suspected to be involved in the case.
According to reports, a woman had died in the village two days ago. Among the three detainees, two were relatives of the deceased. Police suspect that they have committed the crime on suspicion of witchcraft. Nayakote police visited the spot Wednesday and started an investigation into the matter.
Injured Mangal Pradhan told police that Tuesday night when all of them were asleep, some people stormed into their house and assaulted his parents with axes. On seeing it, he and his sister rushed for their parents’ rescue, but the miscreants had assaulted them too with axes and arrows.
Pradhan said since the attack was in the night, he could not see the miscreants properly. He also stated that he did not know the reason behind the attack.
An arrow was stuck in the chest of Mangal and he was taken to a hospital. Sumitra sustained multiple injuries. The doctors have referred them to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack.
Nayakote IIC Yudhisthir Sahu said that the incident might have been on the basis of witchcraft suspicion.
He said that bodies were seized and sent for post mortem. PNN
