Woman lynched after being branded witch

JALPAIGURI: A woman was beaten to death after being branded a witch in a West Bengal tea garden Saturday, police said. At least 17 people were arrested in this connection.

Police said Shanti Kharia of Dima tea garden under Kalchini police station area of northern district of Jalpaiguri, about 700 km from Kolkata, was held responsible for the mental disease of a fellow villager Pawan Oraon and branded a witch.

She was beaten to death in the wee hours of Saturday. Two other male villagers - Tulsi and Sunny Oraon - were also seriously injured as they were accused of practising black magic as well.

The injured men were taken to a local hospital.