A pregnant woman was beaten to death in the course of exorcism in Pakistan's Malkani Sharif town, media reports said.

All the suspects have been taken into custody.

A case has not been registered in connection with the incident so far.

The victim was identified as 30-year-old Sangita Kolhi.

She was allegedly handed over to Bachu Kolhi and Harsan Kolhi, known as bhopa (witch-doctor) in the local parlance, by her husband Haresh Kolhi’s family, reported Dawn News.

The family members of the victim suspected she was possessed by an evil spirit.

The bhopas performed their ritual which they alleged was needed to deal with 'possessed' women at a temple located opposite their house.

As it turned out, the ‘procedure’ involved violent methods, including hair-pulling and beatings with fists and sticks, which continued for five days and nights. Sangita finally succumbed to the violence sometime on Sunday night, her family told Dawn News.

Police were informed about the incident rushed to the scene and arrested the bhopas.

The victim’s father Vishram, brother Ashok, and mother told Dawn News that Sangita was in sound health before the ordeal.

They said the bhopas did not allow them to meet her when they visited the hospital.

Neighbours claimed they heard Sangita screaming for five nights while the ritual was being performed.

They said Sangita was pregnant at the time of her death.

Assistant Sub-Inspector Paras Ali Memon of the Pangrio police station told Dawn News that police reached the crime scene after receiving information, took the body into custody and arrested the two suspects.