Balurghat, Oct. 25 -- A 65-year-old tribal woman was beaten to death allegedly by her neighbour who suspected her of practicing witchcraft, in the Nahit area under the jurisdiction of Harirampur Police Station in South Dinajpur district.
The victim has been identified as Rumki Murmu. Police recovered the body on Saturday and sent it to Balurghat District Hospital for an autopsy. Acting on a complaint filed by the victim's family, law enforcement authorities promptly arrested the accused neighbour, Jayram Kisku and launched a full-scale investigation into the incident.
According to local sources, the accused, a vehicle driver by profession, had a son who was suffering from a prolonged illness. Jayram harboured a suspicion that his son's failure to recover was due to alleged witchcraft practiced by the elderly woman.
On Friday night, during a local idol immersion procession, an intoxicated Jayram allegedly blocked the woman's path and began hurling abuses at her before brutally beating her with a wooden stick.
The woman was rushed to Harirampur Rural Hospital, where physicians declared her brought dead.
District Superintendent of Police Abhishek Gupta stated that one person has been arrested in connection with the incident and an investigation is currently underway.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.