Khunti, Jul 17: A Gram Pradhan and his wife were murdered at Rumudkel village under Murhu Police Station area of this district over suspicion of alleged practise of witchcraft.
The deceased have been identified as Gram Pradhan Panda Munda (45) and his wife Anima Soy Murmu (40). The duo were hacked to death by a fellow villager who suspected that his buffalo had died due to their practise of witchcraft as the Gram Pradhan and his wife were a childless couple.
The accused has been identified as Kahdiya Munda who has been absconding since the incident.
Khunti SP said that Khadiya on Saturday night broke into the house of the victim and hacked them to death and fled from the spot. The SP suspected the witchcraft was the reason behind the murder.
Police reached the village on Sunday and later sent both the bodies for post-mortem to Sadar Hospital.