RANCHI, March 17 -- A tribal couple and their minor son were allegedly hacked to death by their own relatives at Danga Tola under Deodanr police station limits in Godda district Monday night, police said.

The victims have been identified as 55-year-old Darbari Murmu, his wife Maku Baski (51), and their 13-year-old son Jitram Murmu. Initial police investigations suggest the brutal attack, carried out with sharp-edged weapons, was fuelled by deep-seated suspicions of practising witchcraft (Dayan-Bisahi).

Police reached the spot early Tuesday morning after being alerted by villagers and subsequently sent the bodies to Sadar Hospital for post-mortem examination. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) swiftly apprehended three suspects believed ...