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