Tiring police in Mayurbhanj district on Wednesday arrested four persons on the charges of killing a tribal couple suspecting them to be practising witchcraft. The incident had taken place on Sunday.
Police sources said Kartik Deo (65) and his wife Kuntala (56) of Mahulabarehi village were killed while they were going to nearby Malialighutu forest to pluck sal leaf. While Kartik was murdered with a sharp weapon, Kuntala was stoned to death.
The accused were identified as Sunaram Singh (55) and Satyaban Singh (43) of Mahulabarehi village under Tiring police limits, Ram Sardar (30) in Kohi village under Morada police limits and his nephew Jagadish Purana (30), a native of Kerketa village under Kuali police limits of Jharkhand. They were relatives of the victims.
Tiring IIC Ismile Eka said Mishra Deo, son of Kartik had married Sunaram’s daughter last year after a prolonged love affair. Due to opposition from Sunaram’s family, they eloped and tied the knot. Months after the marriage, health of most of the family members of Sunaram started deteriorating. They fell sick and remained regularly on medical treatment.
“They suspected Kartik and his wife Kuntala of practising sorcery on them to cause harm to the family members who had opposed the marriage. They accordingly conspired to eliminate the couple,” the police officer informed.
The accused persons have confessed to the crime. A sharp knife which was used to slain Kartik’s neck and the stone used to kill Kuntala were seized by the police.
A case under Sections 34 and 302 of IPC has been registered and the accused arrested. The court has remanded them in judicial custody.