Ranchi, Aug 9 - Three people of a tribal family were lynched by villagers in Gumla district of Jharkhand for allegedly practicing black magic, police said.

According to police, around 10 villagers barged into house of Kudia Munda early Sunday and accused him of practicing witchcraft that was allegedly making neighbours sick.

When Munda, 65, refused to confess to the allegations, the villagers beat him to death with sticks and iron rods.

Two other family members Karmi, 58 and Rahesh, 24 tried to save Munda but villagers lynched them too.

The incident took place at Lohanjara village, 140 Km from here.

In Jharkhand, more than 700 people, majority of them women, have been killed in the last decade on accusations of practicing witchcraft.