An argument between a couple took a violent turn when the man allegedly hacked his wife to death before hanging himself in Debripali village under the Belpada police station in Balangir district on Tuesday.
According to sources, the couple had an argument at a farmland following which Bhakta Nayak (43) hacked his wife Belamati with an axe. After killing his wife, Bhakta hanged himself near the farmland.
Prima facie it was learnt that Bhakta had gone to collect firewood. Later, his wife reached the farmland with lunch for him. Whilet they were having foo together when an altercation took place between them.
In a fit of rage, Bhakta killed his wife. When Bhakta realised that his wife is no more, he hanged self 50 metre away from the farmland.
The couple's younger son was away at school when the incident took place. Later, police reached the spot and began an investigation after sending the bodies for postmortem,