Woman found unconscious with hand severed in India

A woman who was applying to become a police officer in India was found unconscious and with her hand severed.

The victim was found in a field in Jamalpur town, in the district of Munger in the eastern state of Bihar.

Her severed hand was found nearly 100 metres away, as was a sharp-edged weapon, which has been described as generally used for cutting trees.

Family members said she recently cleared the written examination for recruitment in the state police force and had gone to the field to practice for her physical test.

A police official said the attack was unlikely to have involved a gang and could be a case of personal enmity.