'Witch' killed

TT, Jalpaiguri, Jan. 10: A 50-year-old worker of Rungamuttee Tea Estate in Malbazar was allegedly hacked to death last night by another labourer who branded her a "witch".

The accused person was arrested from the estate today after the deceased's son had lodged a police complaint.

Sources said Budhmonia Nagasia was returning home yesterday when Shuku Nagasia attacked her with a sharp weapon. The deceased's son Mangra has alleged that Shuku had slit her throat and Budhmonia died on the spot.

Police have learnt that for the past few months, Shuku's wife and son had been suffering from different ailments. "Shuku went to a shaman who told him that Budhmonia was responsible for their condition," a police source said.

Since then, Shuku had been planning the attack on Budhmoni, Mangra said.

The garden is around 50km from here.

"It is unfortunate that such incidents are happening despite awareness campaigns in the tea estates and tribal belts of north Bengal against superstitions," said Bulu Chik Baraik, the Trinamul MLA of Malbazar and a Rungamuttee garden resident