Bhubaneswar, Sept. 28 -- A 41-year-old man in Odisha's Gajapati district was allegedly beaten to death by villagers and his body was burnt after being taken from his home over suspicion that he practised witchcraft, police said on Monday.

Gajapati superintendent of police PS Meena said the victim Ramachandra Malik who was living with his family on a hill in Merama village for several years after villagers suspected him of practising sorcery was allegedly beaten to death and then burnt.

"Officials from Mohana police station have traced the spot where the body was allegedly burnt and recovered bones and ashes. In this connection we have detained five persons and interrogating them," Meena said.

Police said some villagers of Merama came t...