Baripada, Feb. 6: Mayurbhanj police arrested four persons on charge of killing a 65-year-old man on suspicion of his involvement in witchcraft.

The accused killed the deceased, Ladura Mahakud of Rajatnagar village at Ranipokhari gram panchayat in the Sarat police station limits, in a nearby forest on Monday evening and buried him.

The body was exhumed in presence of local magistrate yesterday and sent for autopsy.

The police nabbed the principal accused, Bhanja Mahakud, 35, and rounded up his three accomplices, who helped him burying the body. They were identified as Ladura Singhdeogam, 25, Sridam Singhdeogam, 45, and Sahau Singhdeogam, 32, of the same village.

The accused persons have confessed to the crime, said the police, adding that the reason behind the act was their suspicions on the deceased for practising witchcraft.

Investigating officer Naba Kumar Das said: “Bhanja Mahakud was staying in his in-laws’ house and had strained relationship with Ladura. Both had a scuffle about six months ago, when Bhanja accused Ladura of practising sorcery and bringing miseries for the villagers.”

“On Monday evening, they met each other in a hut while taking handia (a local brew). Bhanja hit the victim with a heavy stone, resulting in his death on the spot. Subsequently, he took the help of other three, who had also enmity with the victim, in burying the body,” he said.

The deceased’s son brought the allegation before local police that Bhanja had killed his father.

Sub-divisional police officer K.C. Nayak said: “A case under sections 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against the accused for the offence.”