Bankura, Oct. 20 -- A wave of horror and sensation gripped Lalbaba Mana settlement on the Damodar riverbed in Sonamukhi late this evening on Maha Astomi, after a farmer youth allegedly beheaded his wife and his father in a suspected act of black magic ritual (Tantra sadhana).

The accused has been identified as Mongal Chowdhury, resident of Lalbaba Mana - a barh within the Damodar river coarse under the Sonamukhi PS area in Bankura.

According to police and the locals, Chowdhury allegedly beheaded his wife Rompa Chowdhury and placed her severed head on a temple altar as an offering during Sandhi Puja.

He also allegedly killed his father Rajendra Chowdhury for the same purpose. He used an axe for the 'sacrifices', which the police recovered...