Assam horror: 60-year-old woman beheaded for 'practising witchcraft'

A 60-year-old woman was beheaded today allegedly by a group of villagers who suspected that she had been practising witchcraft in Assam''s Sonitpur district.

Superintendent of Police of Bishwanath Chariali, Manabendra Dev Roy, said the woman, Moni Orang, was called out of her house in Vimajuli village and attacked.

Allegedly instigated by a couple, who act as priests in the area, the villagers severely beat her up then severed her head with a sharp weapon. The villagers also prevented the police from reaching the spot, the SP said.

A police team led by Additional Superintendent of Police Samad Hussain dispersed the crowd and recovered the body which has been sent for postmortem.

Roy said three persons were arrested in this connection and the sharp weapon, used for beheading, has been recovered.

The situation in the village was tense but under control, police added.