Birbhum, October 11: A 42-year-old tribal man had all his ten fingers chopped on the order of a kangaroo court in West Bengal’s Birbhum district on the suspicion that he practised witchcraft. The kangaroo court had taken this step so that he could not practise black magic any more. The man was identified as Fandi Sardar, a labourer, and has been admitted to Burdwan Medical Colege Hospital after the incident on Tuesday night. All the five men have been arrested, including the victim's son. Bihar: Tribal Woman Beaten to Death in Purnea For 'Practising Witchcraft'

He was admitted to the surgical ward of the hospital and was critical due to excessive bleeding but later hospital authorities claimed that Fandi was stable and out of danger. According to the reports, villagers have disposed off the victim's fingers and the weapon used to chop them.

The issue went to kangaroo court after the victim's neighbour accused him of practising black magic after many villagers fell ill in the last few months. After a brief spell of illness, villagers went to a local baba who claimed that the 'trouble' is coming from Fandi's premises. Following these allegations, Fandi was accused of witchcraft by villagers. Later, the kangaroo court summoned him and ordered that he will be killed, but subsequently, the punishment was reduced to chopping his fingers.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 11, 2018 04:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).