Kathmandu: A 40-year-old woman was burnt to death in central Nepal for allegedly practicing witchcraft, police said on Saturday.

Dhegani Mahato, a widow, was attacked and set on fire by family members and others after a shaman allegedly accused her of casting a spell to make one of her relatives sick.
She was beaten with sticks and rocks before being doused with kerosene and set afire. The attack occurred yesterday in Bagauda in Chitwan district. Although there are several other houses in the vicinity, nobody came to rescue Dhegani while she was being thrashed.
Neighbors told police they were alerted to the attack but by then it was too late to save her.
"When I reached the site, she was already killed," said Jhari Mahato, Dhegani`s father-in-law.
Police have arrested eight persons, including Bikram and Jogishwora Mahato, who claims to be shamans, in connection with the burning. Villagers say Bikram Mahato`s family members started dancing as they set Dhegani on fire. They claimed that they had killed Dhegani as per "the god`s instructions".
Dhegani`s husband had died of cancer seven years ago. She had been living with her 10-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter since then.
PTI