Man hacks aunt to death over sorcery suspicion, surrenders

Baripada: Superstition has cost a woman, Gumi Murmu, her life at Thakurasahi village under Kaptipada police limits in Mayurbhanj district. She was allegedly hacked to death by her nephew, who suspected her of practising witchcraft, late on Sunday.
The incident came to the fore this morning after the accused, Shiva Murmu, surrendered before Kaptipada police with the crime weapon, a billhook.
According to reports, Shiva started suspecting Gumi after her husband, Manu Murmu, died of an unknown illness 10 days ago. Gumi had reportedly predicted Manu’s death and Shiva suspicion grew when he died that very day.
It was a pre-planned murder. The accused attacked Gumi with the billhook while she was returning from the weekly haat and dumped the body at the bank of a nearby river.
Police have recovered the body and further investigation is on