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Couple Burnt To Death And Thrown Into A Canal On Suspicion Of Witchcraft

Couple Burnt To Death And Thrown Into A Canal On Suspicion Of Witchcraft
Tantrik or Voodoo performers participate in rituals at a crematorium on the outskirts of Ahmedabad late on October 25, 2011. Tantriks and Bhuvas, participate in alleges black-magic rituals in the crematorium on the banks of river Sabarmati. In the past the groups would sacrifice animals during the rituals, but due to awareness campaigns for animal rights they have stopped the practise. AFP PHOTO / Sam PANTHAKY (Photo credit should read SAM PANTHAKY/AFP/Getty Images)
SAM PANTHAKY via Getty Images
Tantrik or Voodoo performers participate in rituals at a crematorium on the outskirts of Ahmedabad late on October 25, 2011. Tantriks and Bhuvas, participate in alleges black-magic rituals in the crematorium on the banks of river Sabarmati. In the past the groups would sacrifice animals during the rituals, but due to awareness campaigns for animal rights they have stopped the practise. AFP PHOTO / Sam PANTHAKY (Photo credit should read SAM PANTHAKY/AFP/Getty Images)

VIZIANAGARAM, Andhra Pradesh -- A couple was allegedly beaten to death by local residents of a village in the district on suspicion of practising witchcraft, police said today.

The incident took place under Makkuva police station limits late last night and the couple was identified as Kolluri Pandu (40) and his wife K Seethamma (35), they said.

According to police, immediately after the incident, the bodies were also burnt by the locals, who also severely thrashed the couple's three daughters.

"After a 24-year-old G Srinivas died of mysterious disease in the village a few days back, the villagers attributed the death to evil designs of the couple," Inspector K Ramakrishna said.

The villagers held a meeting and called the couple to testify on Tuesday. In the meeting, the villagers accused the couple of practising witchcraft, which they said had led to Srinivas's death.

"However, the couple denied the charge. The village head then called the panchayat meet on Wednesday morning.

However, the relatives of the deceased, who came to the village from neighbouring Odisha, beat the couple to death with the support of few locals late last night," he said.

The villagers then burnt their bodies near a canal and threw the ashes into the canal. The couple's elder daughter K Radha called the police and narrated the incident, following which a police team rushed to the spot and registered a case.

No arrests have been made so far, police said, adding further investigation into the case was on.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.