Agartala, Mar 5 (IANS): A tribal woman and her daughter were hacked to death in a Tripura village after they were branded sorceresses, police said here Tuesday.

Ajanga Mala Tripura, 65, and her daughter Puspa Mala Tripura, 35, were killed in Sakbari village Monday night by three men who accused them of causing their father's illness through black magic.

Ramani Mohan Tripura, 55 has been suffering from some ailments. His three sons allegedly responsible for the henious crime are on the run.

Police went to the spot, 140 km from here, and arrested Ramani Mohan Tripura.

According to the villagers, the killing was driven by superstitious beliefs.

Tripura Women's Commission (TWC) Tuesday strongly condemned the killing of the tribal women suspected of using witchcraft or black magic.

The TWC, a statutory body for the protection of women from all forms of atrocities and deprivation, in a statement demanded strict punishment for the perpetrators of such crimes.

"A fact finding team of the commission would visit the Sakbari village Wednesday to get the details of the killings," TWC chairperson Purnima Roy told IANS.

Many people, mostly women, are killed every year in the northeastern states for allegedly practising sorcery and witchcraft, mostly in tribal-dominated areas of western and northern Assam and Tripura.

Black magic, witchcraft and superstitious beliefs have been part of tribal customs in parts of Assam, Tripura and other northeastern states.

Many tribal communities practise indigenous faiths and resort to such rituals in treating ailments in their communities.