A body was found under mysterious circumstances at Jitpursimara Sub-metropolitan City in Bara today morning. The deceased has been identified as Bir Bahadur Moktan, 71, of Bankultole of Badarhawa in the sub-metropolis.

Moktan’s body was found hanging from a tree at Sahajnath partnership forest. There was blood all over the body and his knees were touching the ground. Moktan’s cap and shirt were found away from the incident site.

DSP Ranjit Singh Rathaur said the incident appeared mysterious as the tree was blood-stained and a blade was found at the site. “Police cannot exactly tell whether the elderly man killed himself or was murdered,” said DSP Rathaur. The body was sent to district hospital for post-mortem. We will know the cause of death only after the post-mortem report, DSP added.

Meanwhile, Moktan’s family members and relatives claimed he had been murdered. His son Kshetra Bahadur Moktan said some family members and neighbours had been torturing Moktan on the charge of practising witchcraft for the past few days. “Around three locals had developed health problems and father was blamed for their condition,” said son Kshetra Bahadur.

Moktan’s daughter-in-law, granddaughter and neighbours had accused him of practising witchcraft. Father was very upset on Monday and his body was found today morning, said Kshetra Bahadur. He claimed that his father was murdered and demanded that the guilty be booked pronto.