Relative accused of choking village head with sand over 'magic' feud

A murder case that sounds like a folk tale unfolded in Pakur’s Amrapara block when a village sarpanch was strangled with sand by a family member. Chhota Bamna Pahadiya, the elected head of Chhota Kuskutta, was attacked inside his residence on Monday night.

Dharma Pahadiya, who lives in the same village, told investigators that he suspected the chief’s “toka‑totka” (witchcraft) was responsible for his father’s demise. Acting on that suspicion, he entered the chief’s house, shoved sand into the victim’s mouth and throat, and fled.

The police recovered a cloth used during the attack, soaked in blood, and a forensic analysis linked it to the victim. The suspect was apprehended within eight hours of the complaint, and a post‑mortem confirmed death by asphyxiation. The case is now in the hands of the district court.