Woman branded witch, tortured

Ranchi, India - Police in Jharkhand have rescued a woman who had been branded a witch and subjected to torture.

Pusani Devi was rescued on Saturday from Palani village, 45 km from here, after villagers filed a complaint.

The police arrested Gahan Manhi who, along with his two sons had kept her confined to a room for more than 20 days and tortured her.

Pusani Devi's husband told the police that Gahan accused his wife of using black magic to set their paddy fields on fire.

They allegedly kept her in a room, beat her, extracted one of her nails and forced her to consume human excreta. Gahan's two sons are absconding.