An elderly woman was beaten to death by her neighbours on charge of practising witchcraft at Dubudih village in Seraikela-Kharswan district, police today said.
Rajni Kumharin, aged over 70, was sitting in her courtyard when her neighbor Mangal Kumhar and his father Chuku Kumhar barged into her house and attacked her with lathi accusing her of practising black magic, police said.
Rajni succumbed to her injuries on way to hospital, police said.
The accused father-son duo fled on a motorcycle after committing the crime.
Referring to the incident, police said Mangal's five-year-old son was not keeping well for last few days despite the medical treatment and held Rajni responsible for it.
Police said a case has been registered against the absconding duo.
The incident was third of its kind in last three weeks in the Kolhan region comprising East and West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharswan districts.
Earlier three of a family including a 95-year-old woman had been axed to death by unidentified miscreants in Khadgu village under Potka police station of East Singhbhum district on June 1 while a 40-year-old woman was murdered in Vidyutnagar under Adityapur police station in Seraikela-Kharswan district on May 24 last for similar reason.
