Lohardaga, Oct 9 (NationPress) In a disturbing incident fueled by superstition, three family members were brutally killed due to allegations of practicing witchcraft in the Lohardaga district of Jharkhand, as reported by officials.

The tragic events unfolded late Wednesday night in the village of Kekrang Bartoli, under the jurisdiction of the Peshrar police station. The victims have been identified as Laxman Nagesia (47), his wife Bifani Nagesia (45), and their nine-year-old son Ramvilas Nagesia.

Authorities stated that the assailants employed sharp-edged weapons, such as an axe and a spade, to slit the throats of the victims while they were asleep. Following the heinous act, the attackers allegedly secured the house from the outside and fled the scene.

The incident came to light on Thursday morning when concerned neighbors noticed the family had not opened their door for an extended period.

They alerted the police, prompting SDPO Vedant Shankar and Peshrar Station House Officer Virendra Kumar to arrive at the scene with a police team. The bodies were subsequently recovered and sent for post-mortem examinations.

At the time of the attack, four family members were home. The only survivor, Sukhmania Nagesia, reported to the police that her family had been facing ongoing harassment from certain villagers accusing them of witchcraft.

“A village panchayat had been convened earlier regarding this matter,” she stated.

“On the night of the incident, my father-in-law, mother-in-law, and brother-in-law were asleep when a group of men broke in and attacked them with an axe. I was locked in my room from the outside and could not call for help,” she added.

SDPO Shankar emphasized that while the exact motive remains unconfirmed, allegations of superstition and witchcraft appear to be the driving factors.

“We are exploring all possible angles. Police teams have been dispatched to identify and apprehend the culprits. We aim to resolve the case promptly,” he noted.

Local sources indicated that rumors surrounding witchcraft had been circulating in the village for months, with rising tensions between the family and some community members.

The horrific murders have incited fear and outrage in Kekrang Bartoli and neighboring villages. Residents are demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible and stronger measures against violence stemming from superstition.