This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-33605244

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
'Witch' killed in India's Assam India villagers behead woman for 'witchcraft'
(about 2 hours later)
An Indian woman has been killed by a group of villagers who suspected her of practising witchcraft, police said. An elderly Indian woman accused of practising witchcraft has been stripped naked and beheaded by villagers in the state of Assam, police say.
They said Purni Orang, 63, died after she was stripped naked and beheaded by villagers in a tribal village in the north-eastern state of Assam on Monday. They said that 63-year-old Purni Orang had been blamed for illness in the tribal settlement.
Seven people, including two women, have been arrested in connection with the incident. Seven people, including two women, have been arrested over her killing.
Witch hunts targeting women are common in parts of India and a number of those accused are killed every year. Police in Assam say nearly 90 people, mostly women, have been beheaded, burnt alive or stabbed to death after such accusations over the last six years.
Experts say superstitious beliefs are behind some of these attacks, but there are occasions when people - especially widows - are targeted for their land and property. Branding women as witches is particularly prevalent among tribal communities and tea plantation workers in the state.
Local police official Samad Hussain told the BBC Hindi that people in a village in Sonitpur district were falling sick, and some of them "blamed Purni Orang for their condition". People in a village in Sonitpur district were falling sick, and some of them "blamed Purni Orang for their condition", local police official Samad Hussain told BBC Hindi.
"After that they branded her a witch and killed her," Mr Hussain said."After that they branded her a witch and killed her," Mr Hussain said.
Reports say the villagers were instigated by a couple, who work as priests in the village.
In October, an Indian athlete Debjani Bora was severely beaten after being branded a witch in Assam.In October, an Indian athlete Debjani Bora was severely beaten after being branded a witch in Assam.
Branding women as witches is particularly prevalent among tribal communities and tea plantation workers in the state. Experts say superstitious beliefs are behind some of these attacks, but there are occasions when people - especially widows - are targeted for their land and property.
Nearly 90 people, mostly women, have been beheaded, burnt alive or stabbed to death after such accusations over the last six years, police say.