Black magic practitioner's killers arrested

Black magic practitioner's killers arrested

CIANJUR, West Java: At least three people suspected of the grisly murder of an alleged black magic practitioner in Neglasari village in the West Java town of Cianjur, have been arrested, local police said on Tuesday.

Adj. Comr. Wandi Aziz, Cianjur Police's chief of detectives, said the arrests were made after intensive negotiations with local villagers, who were protecting the three suspects.

The suspects -- all from the same village in Kadupandak subdistrict -- are accused of involvement in the recent murder of 50-year-old Adang Sudja'i, the suspected black magic practitioner, or tukang santet as they are locally known.

Adang's body was found in a sack floating on the Cibuni river in the neighboring village of Sukamahi. The body of the deceased was covered in stab wounds and bore signs of strangulation around the neck believed to have been inflicted with a cable.

Adang was killed as he was accused of practicing black magic against a charismatic local leader. It was not clear whether the magic was effective or not.

Wandi said the three detainees were among 15 suspects being hunted by the police.

Last year, around 90 black magic practitioners were killed by villagers in Cianjur. --Antara