BANKURA: A man was arrested for allegedly beheading his wife and killing his father with a sharp weapon in West Bengal's Bankura district, police said on Tuesday, according to news agency PTI. The incident took place on Monday night at Mana Char along the Damodar River, near the boundary between Sonamukhi police station in Bankura district and Kanksa police station in Paschim Bardhaman district.

The accused, identified as Mangal Choudhury, allegedly beheaded his wife Rumpa Choudhury, 39, before killing his father Rajendra Choudhury, aged around 60, with a sharp weapon, according to police. The severed head of the woman was allegedly placed at a temple, triggering panic in the area, and Rajendra Choudhury's body was recovered from the courtyard of the house. Mangal also allegedly tried to attack his brother, who managed to escape.

Police personnel from Sonamukhi and Kanksa police stations reached the spot after receiving information about the incident. Both bodies were recovered and arrangements were being made to send them for post-mortem examinations, sources at Sonamukhi police station said. IANS reporting described the same killings, the recovery of both bodies and a case registered against the accused.

The motive behind the double murder remains unclear. Investigators have yet to establish whether the crime was linked to occult rituals or whether any other person instigated the accused, and police have not confirmed any link between the murders and occult practices. Local residents said Mangal and his wife regularly offered prayers at a temple. The circumstances leading to the crime remain under investigation.

PTI reported that the accused was arrested on Monday but could not be produced before a court as he had an injured finger and was admitted to Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital for treatment, according to police. An earlier IANS report had said a search was on to apprehend him. All allegations are as stated by police and remain under investigation. Sources: PTI (via The Times of India); IANS (via Nation Press).