Couple's bodies found, witchcraft killing suspected

Bodies of a couple suspected to have been killed for practising black magic were found from a forest in Joda area of Odisha's Keonjhar district today, police said.

The bodies of Mangal Munda (65) and Sukumani Munda (60) were found inside Kusirapa forest near Kolahundula village, Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Ayaya Pratap Swain said.
Preliminary investigation indicated that the two could have been stoned and caned to death, he said adding a team was also inquiring into the incident.

As per the information provided by Raya, son of the deceased, some residents of the village had threatened to kill all members of their family as they suspected the couple were practising black magic, police said.

The villagers had alleged that several unpleasant incidents had taken place in the village because of black magic practised by the deceased, they said.

The SDPO said investigation was in progress and efforts were being made to nab the accused.