Tribal woman beaten to death for practising witchcraft

A 40-year-old tribal woman was beaten to death allegedly by her extended family on the suspicion of practising witchcraft in Bihar's Purnea district, police said today.

The deceased was identified as Parvati Murmu (40), Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Dhamdaha, Prem Raj Kumar said.

Police are conducting raids to nab the culprits, the SDPO said.

The deceased's daughter said her uncle, who was ailing for past one and half years, died yesterday.

Uncle's family member alleged that his death was the result of Parvati's black magic and they tied her to a tree in Aamnah Baans Bitta village yesterday evening and beat her to death, the SDPO said quoting the FIR lodged by the deceased's daughter.

Murmu was taken to sadar hospital but she died in the hospital, the police said.

An FIR has been lodged against six persons who are absconding, the SDPO said.