Berhampur, July 1: Police today arrested six persons in connection with the murder of one Prakash Mallick, 50, who had allegedly been beaten to death with a bamboo stick.

The murderers had also allegedly thrown Mallick's body to the funeral pyre of another person at the Dhepaguda crematorium in the Patapur police limits, 45km from here, on Monday.

The offenders suspected Prakash to be practising black magic for a long time. The police have seized the ashes of the body and the bamboo stick. "The accused were produced before court today," said Patapur police inspector-in-charge Ajaya Barik.

The arrested persons were Nilanchal Mallick, Maguni Mallick, Dandapani Mallick, Bharat Mallick, Pravas Mallick and Jogi Mallick. The police have registered a case under sections 302, 114, 201, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 4 (2) of the Odisha Prevention of Witch-hunting Act.

The cops swung into action after the deceased's son, Naveen Mallick, had lodged an FIR with Patapur police. Aska sub-divisional police officer Ashok Kumar Mohanty visited the crime scene to supervise the investigation.

Prakash, a farmer by profession, was attacked by the relatives of Runa Mallick, who had succumbed to injuries while climbing down from his neighbour's rooftop on June 28. Runa had gone to the rooftop to dry some paddy.

Runa was admitted to Digapahandi community health centre and later shifted to MKCG Hospital, where he died. On Monday, Prakash went to the crematorium to attend Runa's funeral.

There was no enmity between Prakash and Runa, Barik said.

"However, Runa's brothers - Tuna Mallick and Nilanchal Mallick - misbehaved with Prakash inside the crematorium. They accused him of practising witchcraft and held him responsible for the deaths of Runa, his father and uncle in the recent past," said Naveen.

"They branded Prakash as a witch after contacting a tantrik (occultist) over phone," Naveen said.

He said Tuna, the prime accused, had been missing since the incident.