Bhubaneswar, July 24 (IANS): The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday issued a notice to Odisha's Keonjhar district magistrate and superintendent of police to submit a report on the killing of six members of a family for allegedly practicing sorcery.

Taking suo motu cognizance of media report, the commission has asked the district administration to submit the report within two weeks, the NHRC said in a release.

Six members of a family, suspected of practicing witchcraft, were hacked to death while two were seriously injured by some residents of Mundashahi village on July 12.

The deceased comprised the head of the family, Gura Munda, his wife, two daughters and two sons.

The commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the victim and his family.

The Odisha government has handed over the case to the crime branch. Several villagers have been arrested for their suspected involvement in the killings.