Lanjigarh, May 24: The Lanjigarh police arrested three persons for allegedly killing a youth over suspicion of witchcraft at Semelgarh village in Kalahandi district on May 18, police said today.

The accused have been identified as Biswa Lohara (26), Kadraka Apara (24), and Chintamani Kulasikha (19).

According to the police, Biswa Lohara fell ill a few days back but was not able to get cured after various medications. He suspected that the deceased, Nilamani Dandasena had made him fall sick by applying black magic on him, following which he decided to eliminate Nilamani.

Further, he allied with the other two accused and executed a plan to kill Nilamani.

On May 18, while Nilamani was sleeping in his veranda in the night, the accused killed him by slitting his throat and dumped his body in a pond near the village.

Later, the Lanjigarh police investigated the matter and nabbed the three accused. They were forwarded to the court today.