NEW DELHI, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Five persons of a family were burnt alive in a village in India's eastern state of Bihar on Monday over the doubt that the deceased were involved in witchcraft, or black magic, said the local police.

The incident was reported from Bihar's Purnea district.

The local police recovered the dead bodies and detained at least three persons allegedly involved in the killings. It was believed that most residents of the village were involved, either directly or indirectly, in the gory crime which sent shock waves across the state. ■