Balasore, April 25: Karanjia police of Mayurbhanj district have arrested three persons out of five, including the main accused, for killing a person allegedly practising witchcraft yesterday.

A 55-year-old Bhima Birua of village Rangamatia under Dudhiani gram panchayat close to Similipal sanctuary was killed by the accused persons and they also burnt his body to destroy the evidence.

Acting on the complaint of one of the relatives of the deceased, the police arrested the accused yesterday and produced them in court following which they were remanded in custody. However, the other two accused are still at large.

The arrested are Toto Soye 35, Manoj Soye, 30, and Bharat Birua, 26, of the same village.

According to village sources, the prime accused Toto had sought help of deceased Bhima Birua to cure his relative, who was ailing due to some unknown disease for months, with witchcraft.

Although Bhima had agreed to visit Toto’s home to perform some kind of black magic, yet he did not turn up.

Despite repeated requests, when Bhima refused to go, Toto grew suspicious and killed him. Subsequently, with the help Manoj Soye and Bharat Birua, Toto took the body out and burnt it to ashes .

A complaint alleging the involvement of Toto and others was lodged with the police on the next day. “Since Bhima didn’t keep his words, though he agreed initially, Toto suspected the former’s use of witchcraft leading to sickness of his relative. In suspicion and anger he killed Bhima,” said inspector in charge of the Karanjia police station Girija Shankar Chakraborty .