BARIPADA: Three persons have been arrested on charges of killing a mason in Badasahi area of Mayurbhanj district over suspected sorcery.
The accused Mangal Singh (60), his elder son Soma Singh (38) and a deaf and dumb youth, Kanda Singh (20) of Sundardihi village here were produced in a local court on Saturday and remanded in judicial custody. Two others involved in the crime are absconding.
Police sources said a mason, Sukra Singh (35) was found dead along Baripada-Udala road on January 18. Sukra’s wife alleged that the accused persons had killed him suspecting him to be a witch doctor. “Mangal suspected Sukra of practising witchcraft on his younger son,” said Badasahi OIC Sandhyarani Beuria.
They had earlier physically abused him at the village market following which Sukra left the village to work as a mason at a construction site, his wife said adding that they killed him with a hatchet while he was returning home.
It was Kanda who spilled the beans and admitted to have disposed of the body on the road. The police have also seized the hatchet used in the crime. “Efforts are on to nab two other accused which includes another son of Mangal,” the police officer added.