Branded a witch, woman beaten to death

BOKARO - A woman was beaten to death and another critically injured for allegedly practising black magic in Jharkhand’s Bokaro district, police said Sunday.

Mukta Devi and Guruwari Devi were brutally thrashed Saturday night by irate residents of their colony when their neighbour, Sunita Devi, charged them with practising black magic. Guruwari died on the spot while Mukta is battling for life in a hospital.

Sunita charged them with using black magic to kill her one-year-old daughter, who had taken ill a few days back. She also accused them of setting her on fire.

No one has been arrested.

According to official data, over 700 people, primarily women, have been killed in the state after being branded witches.