Munger: A woman was murdered and her teenaged daughter critically injured in an attack in Munger district, around 180km east of Patna, on Sunday night that is believed to have been spurred by suspicion that the woman was practising black magic.

Police, however, are not ruling out family dispute.

The incident occurred in a village under Haveli Kharaghpur police station.

The daughter is battling for life at JLNMC hospital Bhagalpur.

According to police sources, Karuna Devi (47) was sleeping in her house at Rambeharipur village under Murade panchayat in Maoist-ravaged Haveli Kharaghpur subdivision when she was killed with sharp weapons. Priyam Kumari (17), her daughter who was injured in the attack, was referred to JLNMC hospital from the Haveli Kharaghpur health centre. Golu Kumar (12), Karuna's son, said he survived because he was sleeping in another room.

Golu said his cousin Subodh died around six months ago due to some unknown disease. After Subodh's death his family members along with another cousin of Golu, Pankaj, would accuse Karuna of practising black magic.

"Pankaj threatened my mother with dire consequences several times," Golu said.