Dozens of people are alleged to have attacked and killed a 70-year old woman over witchcraft allegations in Buya Village on Sula Island in North Maluku.



The woman, identified as NU, died on Sunday after the village mob attacked her and dismembered her body.



Information gathered from police and local residents indicate that locals had accused NU of using black magic, Kompas.com reported.



The people believed that santet (a black magic spell) had been cast as several traditional herbalists had failed to cure a local villager, who had been sick for several days.



The villager had regularly asked to be taken to NU's house but often fainted upon arrival.



The patient fell in front of NU's house on Saturday night raising suspicions among local people.



The mob of people descended upon NU's house on Sunday morning, attacked her and dismembered her body with machetes.



After the incident, the mob turned themselves to the police.



"There have been 30 people turn themselves in [to the police] so far, there are expected to be many more tomorrow," a local, who refused to be named, said to kompas.com.



Sula Island Police chief Adj.Sr.Cmr. Deden Supriatna Imhar Sik confirmed the incident.



"There are suspects, but I cannot expose the number," he said.



Traditional ritual practices are still practiced in Indonesia. People believe that santet is used to harm other people, such as enemies, through rituals conducted by dukun (shaman) . (rin)(+)

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