Upon the directive of a tribal kangaroo court in Birbhum's Parui, a farmer chopped off all the fingers of his 66-year-old father's hands. The elderly man was accused of witchcraft following claims he prayed "moving his fingers on the floor" because he allegedly worshipped evil powers.

Following the incident at Ramkrishnapur village of Parui area on Tuesday, five accused, including the son, were arrested on Thursday. The victim, Fondi Sardar, has been admitted to Burdwan Medical College.

Sources said at a kangaroo court, the 'morol' or village chief Anil Sardar declared Fondi a worshipper of evil and as a punishment should be decapitated. Upon begging for mercy by Fondi's family members, the punishment was brought down to chopping off fingers. He also ordered Harishchandra Sardar, the victim's son, to complete the task.

"Did we have an option? The head of the village has the last word. If his directions were not abided by, he would have been beheaded," said a family member of Fondi.

Anil, however, denied all such allegations saying there had been no Kangaroo court put up in the first place.

District superintendent of Police Kunal Agarwal said though no formal complaint had been received, police were investigating the matter. "We are also exploring the possibility of a dispute over property," he said.

District Magistrate Moumita Godhara Basu has sought a detailed report from the block development officer.

Hospital sources said Fondi was stable. "All his fingers have been cut off but at present, he is in a stable condition," said Utpal Dan, superintendent of Burdwan Medical College Hospital.

There has been a huge police deployment at the village as the entire place has been gripped in tension and family members of the victim are living under an apprehension of a backlash from the village head.