A man was brutally murdered in Indore after being accused of witchcraft, leading to the arrest of three suspects and highlighting the persistence of superstition-related violence.
A 28-year-old man was bludgeoned to death in Indore allegedly by three men on suspicion of practising witchcraft, a police official said on Monday.
Days after the brutal killing, police on Monday arrested the trio, all mechanics, who attacked the victim, Krishna Kumar Ahirwar alias Golu, with bricks and stones.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Shrikrishna Lalchandani told reporters that the body of Ahirwar was found in an empty field in the Rajendra Nagar police station area on April 11. His face was severely crushed with bricks and stones to conceal his identity.
Police found two SIM-less keypad mobile phones (feature phones) at the scene. Based on evidence obtained after technical analysis of these tools, three mechanics - Vikas Kose (28), Krishna Bhide (22), and Bhura alias Bhuriya Harwal (30) - were arrested from different parts of Madhya Pradesh, he informed.
The DCP said, "The main accused, Kose, suspected Ahirwar of practicing witchcraft on him. Therefore, he repeatedly confronted Ahirwar. When the dispute between them escalated, Kose, with the help of two of his associates, attacked Ahirwar with bricks and stones and killed him."
Police have launched a detailed investigation into the murder case, Lalchandani added.