Police said Thursday they were investigating an outbreak of &quot;braid chopping&quot; that is spooking Indian villagers and has seen a woman murdered amid rumours of witchcraft.

Since July, at least 55 women across five Indian states have reported waking to find their braids mysteriously lopped off, sparking intense speculation around the assaults.

Four new cases were reported on New Delhi&#39;s outskirts on Wednesday, just days after half a dozen similar cases were reported in Gurgaon, south of the capital.

&quot;We heard her cries, and when we rushed she was lying on the floor unconscious,&quot; said Rohit Yadav, whose 55-year-old mother Monesh Devi fell victim in July in Delhi.

&quot;Her chopped off hair was lying next to her.&quot;

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Woke up at night to use washroom. When I came back saw my hair on bed,woke up my husband&amp;found my daughters&#39; hair chopped off too: Mother <a href="https://t.co/JywAFtBGLt">pic.twitter.com/JywAFtBGLt</a>
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The string of unexplained attacks has occurred in largely rural areas, where superstitious beliefs spark hysteria and allegations of witchcraft.

Some villages have held special prayer sessions to ward off evil spirits and begun patrols to protect their women.

None of the victims have been harmed in any physical way or robbed.

A 65-year-old woman murdered by a mob in Agra -- home to the Taj Mahal -- was later branded a witch and accused of using sorcery to slice braids, despite no cases being reported in the city.

&quot;She was beaten after they found her loitering in a nearby village. Someone accused her of being a witch and later linked her to the hair cutting incidents,&quot; Dinesh Chandra Dubey, Agra police chief, told AFP.

Authorities in Delhi are treating the assaults as crimes but have no leads thus far, Surinder Kumar, deputy commissioner of Delhi police, told AFP.

However, they have dismissed claims of witchcraft, leaning more towards the theory that mental illness or cases of copycat attacks could be behind the bizarre events.

&quot;Counsellors said they could be suffering from disorders and could have done it themselves but our investigating are broad-based,&quot; Kumar told AFP. 
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Since July, at least 55 women across five Indian states have reported waking to find their braids mysteriously lopped off, sparking intense speculation around the assaults

Police said Thursday they were investigating an outbreak of "braid chopping" that is spooking Indian villagers and has seen a woman murdered amid rumours of witchcraft. Since July, at least 55 women across five Indian states have reported waking to find their braids mysteriously lopped off, sparking intense speculation around the assaults. Four new cases were reported on New Delhi's outskirts on Wednesday, just days after half a dozen similar cases were reported in Gurgaon, south of the capital. "We heard her cries, and when we rushed she was lying on the floor unconscious," said Rohit Yadav, whose 55-year-old mother Monesh Devi fell victim in July in Delhi. "Her chopped off hair was lying next to her." Woke up at night to use washroom. When I came back saw my hair on bed,woke up my husband&found my daughters' hair chopped off too: Mother pic.twitter.com/JywAFtBGLt — ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2017 × The string of unexplained attacks has occurred in largely rural areas, where superstitious beliefs spark hysteria and allegations of witchcraft. Some villages have held special prayer sessions to ward off evil spirits and begun patrols to protect their women. None of the victims have been harmed in any physical way or robbed. A 65-year-old woman murdered by a mob in Agra -- home to the Taj Mahal -- was later branded a witch and accused of using sorcery to slice braids, despite no cases being reported in the city. "She was beaten after they found her loitering in a nearby village. Someone accused her of being a witch and later linked her to the hair cutting incidents," Dinesh Chandra Dubey, Agra police chief, told AFP. Authorities in Delhi are treating the assaults as crimes but have no leads thus far, Surinder Kumar, deputy commissioner of Delhi police, told AFP. However, they have dismissed claims of witchcraft, leaning more towards the theory that mental illness or cases of copycat attacks could be behind the bizarre events. "Counsellors said they could be suffering from disorders and could have done it themselves but our investigating are broad-based," Kumar told AFP.

India: Mysterious 'braid chopping' continues, villagers spooked

A sixty-two-year-old woman was allegedly lynched in Agra on Wednesday after villagers suspected her of chopping off women&rsquo;s braids in the area, ANI reported.

The incident took place at Mutnai village in the Dauki police station area of Agra.

Maan Devi was reportedly attacked when she had gone to relieve herself early Wednesday morning. ANI reported that Devi was severely beaten by the mob and was left bleeding.

Devi was then taken to a hospital and was later discharged following primary treatment, ANI reported.

According to ANI, she died on her way back.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-mysterious-braid-chopping-continues-villagers-spooked-18553">Mysterious &#39;braid chopping&#39; continues, villagers spooked</a>

Media reports said Devi was a Dalit, but WION could not verify that.&nbsp;

The Additional Director General of Police in Agra said an investigation is underway to find the people responsible for the woman&rsquo;s death.

Since July, at least 55 women across five Indian states have reported waking to find their braids mysteriously lopped off, AFP reported.

However, none of the victims have been harmed in any physical way or robbed.

 
&nbsp;

Maan Devi was reportedly attacked when she had gone to relieve herself early Wednesday morning

A sixty-two-year-old woman was allegedly lynched in Agra on Wednesday after villagers suspected her of chopping off women’s braids in the area, ANI reported. The incident took place at Mutnai village in the Dauki police station area of Agra. Maan Devi was reportedly attacked when she had gone to relieve herself early Wednesday morning. ANI reported that Devi was severely beaten by the mob and was left bleeding. Devi was then taken to a hospital and was later discharged following primary treatment, ANI reported. According to ANI, she died on her way back. Also read: Mysterious 'braid chopping' continues, villagers spooked Media reports said Devi was a Dalit, but WION could not verify that. The Additional Director General of Police in Agra said an investigation is underway to find the people responsible for the woman’s death. Since July, at least 55 women across five Indian states have reported waking to find their braids mysteriously lopped off, AFP reported. However, none of the victims have been harmed in any physical way or robbed.

Indian 'braid chopper': 62-year-old woman lynched in Agra

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India: Mysterious 'braid chopping' continues, villagers spooked

Indian 'braid chopper': 62-year-old woman lynched in Agra