Bhubaneswar, Aug. 30: Four persons, including three women, from Balasore were beheaded by a group of villagers for allegedly practising witchcraft.

Though the incident happened on the night of August 26 at Pratapur village under Nilagiri police station, it came to light on Thursday after four bodies were found from three separate places in the district. “The beheaded bodies were found at Ayodhya, Fatripur and Puruna Balasore area. The heads are still missing,” said additional SP Pradipta Kumar Das.

The three women have been identified as Tia Singh (40), Budhini Singh (42), Somabari Singh (42) and Budhini’s husband Soren alias Rabi Singh (48). Tia and Somabari belonged to Pratapur, while the other two had come to Tia’s home from Mayurbhanj. They were related.

Police believe that the murders are related to the death of one Raju Singh (16), son of Siba Singh, who died out of snake bite on August 14. “A group of villagers, however, suspected the death to be a witches’ handiwork and decided to take action on them after the Ekadasah (11th day of mourning). On August 26 night the villagers held a meeting and branded the four as witches,” said a police official.