A man was beaten up by villagers after he killed a 55-year-old woman allegedly for practising witchcraft in Saatbakhra village in Ghatsila sub-division of West Singhbhum district.
55-year-old Khairi Sardar along with her daughter-in-law Jharna had gone to fetch water from a nearby well when they were intercepted by Phagu Mahali yesterday, police said today.
Mahali asked Jharna to leave the place and attacked Khairi with an axe fatally, sources said.
Jharna rushed to the village and narrated the incident to the villagers, who caught hold of Mahali and thrashed him badly.
Mahali, who sustained grievous injuries, was handed over to police, who rushed him to M G M Hospital for treatment after arresting him.
According to villagers, Mahali was not keeping well for last several months and held Khairi's black magic responsible for it.
