Woman kills brother on mere suspicion of practising black magic

A police officer said that there had been a property related dispute between the victim and his sister.

A few weeks ago, the accused woman had started claiming that she was feeling unwell and held Raju responsible for her illness.

She had started saying to local residents that she fell ill due to the presence of black magic in her house. Claiming that she had seen Raju behaving in a strange manner at midnight, the accused had forced him to stay all alone with his wife in a corner of the house at Jehadi Line in Bhagatpur Tea Estate.

The woman and some other people had attacked Raju earlier with an intention to lynch him. But they were unsuccessful in their attempt as neighbours came running hearing the victim’s cry for help.

Police came to know that Chandmuni and four other persons had taken Raju forcefully to an adjacent village.

His wife had tried to stop them from taking him to the place. But she was told that they were taking Raju to the adjacent village for treatment.

The accused woman had returned home within two and a half hours. But she had failed to give any satisfactory answer to Raju’s wife when she had enquired about him.

Chandmuni told Raju’s wife that he was undergoing treatment and would return home in another one or two hours. The victim’s wife became impatient as he didn’t return till late night. She went to the police and sought help.

The police went to the adjacent village, but couldn’t find anything suspicious. His body was found on Friday morning in Ghatia river.

Police sent the body for an autopsy and arrested Chandmuni on the basis of a complaint lodged by the victim’s wife. She lodged complaint against five persons including Chandmuni. The police, however, are yet to arrest four others in this connection. The police interrogated her to know whereabouts of the rest four accused persons.

A police officer said: “Though apparently it seems that he was being killed on mere suspicion of practicing witchcraft, but we are trying to find out whether dispute over property had led to the crime.”