BALASORE: One person of Suliapada village in Mayurbhanj district was arrested on Friday on charges of killing his sister-in-law suspecting her of practising witchcraft.
The accused, Samal Murmu (58), stabbed Rindhi (35), wife of his younger brother Nimai (45), with a knife killing her on the spot on Wednesday night.
Police said Rindhi, a labourer, and her husband were asleep when Nimai attacked her and fled. “I woke up on hearing her screams and saw Samal running away. She had stab injuries on her chest and was bleeding profusely. She died before I could rush her to hospital,” Nimai told police.
Police arrested Samal from a nearby village with the help of his son. Both the families were at loggerheads for past few years following death of Samal’s pregnant daughter. Though the cause of her death was not known, Samal suspected practice of witchcraft by Rindhi led to her death, police said quoting the villagers.
This is third such incident in Mayurbhanj district.