DHADING: A 67-year-old woman was beaten black and blue and forced to eat human waste by four persons including a Nepal Army personnel in Siddha Lek Rural Municipality in Dhading.

Following the incident, a team of police from District Police Office, Dhading arrested Harka Bahadur Pulami (45), Khol Bahadur Pulami (63), Tham Bahadur Magar (55) and NA personnel Dhan Bahadur Magar.

Those who thrashed, punched and forced the single and elderly woman to eat human waste under directions from army personnel Magar accused her of transmuting into a witch to eat Magar’s heart.

The victim is undergoing treatment for serious injuries at Star hospital in Kathmandu.

According to victim’s kin, Magar who had returned home from army barrack to celebrate Tihar festival cited chest pain and accused the elderly women of practicing witchcraft to inflict pain before calling over three local shamans to execute a-heinous-act.

Main accused, Magar who is said to have orchestrated ways to torture the woman had fled the scene following the incident but was later taken into custody by law enforcement officers.

According to DPO, Dhading, further investigation into the case is underway.