Elderly couple murdered on suspicion of witchcraft

Bhubaneswar: A 22-year-old man was arrested in Odisha`s Mayurbhanj district for hacking an elderly couple to death on suspicion of witchcraft, police said Saturday.

The incident took place at Dhanusahi village, over 300 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, Friday but came to light after the accused confessed to the crime at a police station.

Police officer Naba Kishor Das said the accused, Bira Singh Bari, suspected Ankula Purti, 65, and his wife Mukta, 60, of practicing witchcraft following the death of his two minor brothers and one sister in recent years.

Finding the couple alone at home and sleeping, he hacked them to death with an axe, Das told IANS.

Police have arrested the accused and seized the axe, he said.