Bhubaneshwar: Alleging witchcraft practice, a man hacked a woman to death in Odisha's Rayagada district on Monday, IANS reported.
The victim was identified as Chandrama Bibhar, aged 55.
Police said that the incident happened at noon in Koilapara village. The accused, Rajesh Kulesika, the woman's neighbour, committed the grave crime.
The youth arrived at the victim's house and knocked on the door. When Bibhar opened the door, he attacked her with an axe, killing her on the spot, the police said.
The accused came to Bibhar's house and knocked on the door. When she opened the door and hacked her with an axe. She died on the spot, police informed.
It was the police's prima facie assumption that the motive was suspicion of practising witchcraft.
After being informed of the incident, police reached the spot and seized the weapon used in the offence and sent the body for post-mortem and took the accused to custody.
"Investigation into the incident is in progress. We are examining all aspects, including allegations that the woman was practising witchcraft. The reason behind the murder will be known after the investigation," a police official said.