Baripada: In a gruesome incident, a tribal woman was allegedly axed to death by her neighbour on the suspicion that she was practicing witchcraft at Khuria under Morada police limits in Mayurbhanj district late Wednesday night.
The accused surrendered before the police Thursday. According to reports, Suni Singh and Baya Singh are neighbours. A son of Baya was not keeping well for a long time. He suspected that Suni was a witch and was trying to hex his family.
The two families used to have quarrels often. Three years ago, they had fought and the matter had landed in the police station.
Suni was out of her house late Wednesday night. Coincidentally, Baya was out there. Both had bandied words. In a rage, Baya slapped Suni. When the woman fell flat, the accused dragged her to a desolate place where he hacked her to death with an axe.
The matter came to the light Thursday morning when the body was found. Suni’s husband, Hareskrushna Singh, lodged an FIR at the police station.
Before police took any action, the accused surrendered along with the weapon used in the crime at the police station. Baya suspected that Suni’s hexing had led to his son’s illness. The accused was angry and looking for an opportunity to settle scores with the victim, the police said.
PNN
