Three of tribal family hacked to death in Ranchi

Ranchi, Aug 5 (IANS) Three members of a tribal family, including two minors, were hacked to death and two others were injured on the outskirts of Ranchi on Friday, police said.

According to police, three persons entered the house of Hari Munda and attacked the family members with a sharp edged weapon. The incident took place at Rasen village, in Dasham Falls police station area, around 50 km from Ranchi.

The three killed have been identified as Dimba Munda, 50, Mungiya Kumari, 14 and Kanchan Munda, 10. The injured people -- Somvari Devi and Hari Munda -- have been admitted to hospital.

Somvari Devi is the mother of deceased Mungiya Kumari and Kanchan Munda. Dimba Munda was the brother-in-law of Somvari Devi.

The police is probing the matter.

"We are investigating the case from two angles. First the killing could been executed due to land dispute or this could be a case of witchcraft," a police official told IANS.