Dumka, Jan. 5: A tribal youth killed his old mother in the Santhal Pargana for allegedly practising black magic.

The incident took place at Littipara under the Chutti Panchayat in Barhet block of Sahebganj on January 3.

Misir Murmu (35) hanged his mother Bahamuni Kisku (55).

The Barhet police learnt about the incident on January 4 and nabbed the youth and forwarded him to Sahebganj district jail last evening.

Misir, who reportedly confessed to the crime, said he was frustrated after the death of his two siblings recently. He claimed his wife was also suffering from certain diseases.

The village doctors, mostly referred to quacks, failed to detect the cause of the diseases.

Misir reportedly approached “dharmaguru”, a village priest, who claimed that the deaths and the diseases were the result of black magic practised by his mother.

“He said Bahamuni was a witch and instigated the son to kill her,” a police source from Sahebganj district headquarters said.

The dharmaguru is missing after the incident. The police have started investigating into the matter.

They suspect that property matters may have caused the incident.

According to villagers, Misir was very disturbed and he hung Bahamuni from the ceiling of their house. At the time of the incident, family members were outside. When they came back in the evening, they found the body.

“Misir did not repent murdering his mother,” a police source said.

Senior police officers said the incident was unfortunate and blamed illiteracy among tribal community members for the act.