Malkangiri, Sep 18: Police on Thurday arrested five men for allegedly killing one Niranjan Thakur on suspicion of practising witchcraft in Kurumapali village under Mathili police limits in Malkangiri.

According to reports, on September 10, Niranjan was sleeping outside his house when the accused struck. Believing him responsible for the death of one of their family members through sorcery, the accused persons planned the attack meticulously.

The accused persons reportedly cut off electricity from a nearby transformer and entered Niranjan’s house. Then they attacked him with a sharp weapon, resulting in his death on the spot. And later disposed the weapon in a nearby pond to destroy evidence.

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Later, a complaint was lodged and within a week, Mathili police cracked the case, arresting all five accused and producing them in court.

The investigation revealed that the murder was not spontaneous but a deliberate act fueled by superstition and revenge.