70 year-old tribal woman killed for being 'witch'

Budhni Tirkey who stayed with her three orphan granddaughters was reportedly threatened by several youths last evening to leave as they blamed her for some recent deaths in the area, they said.

Later, the youths allegedly returned in the night and forcibly took away Budhni after which her granddaughters lodged a complaint with the police.

Her body, which bore serious injury marks, was found today near Dooars railway line in Malbazar, they said, adding that no one has been arrested in the case so far.

Budhni's granddaughters have claimed that a number of people died of chikunguniya, malaria and malnutrition recently in the area.