Police in India's West Bengal state have reported that a man beheaded his wife and displayed her head publicly before killing his father. The severed head of Rumpa Choudhury was allegedly placed at a temple in the Bankura district on Monday, causing panic in the area.
Attack sequence and victims
According to police, her husband, Mangal Choudhury, then continued his assault by killing his father, Rajendra Choudhury, with a sharp weapon. He subsequently attempted to attack his brother, who managed to escape. The father's body, believed to be in his 60s, was recovered from the courtyard of the house.
The motive behind the double murder remains unclear. Local residents said that Mangal and his wife, 39, regularly offered prayers at a temple. Police said investigators have yet to establish whether the crime was linked to occult rituals or whether there was another motive. Authorities have not confirmed any link between the murders and occult practices.
Location and police response
According to news agency PTI, the incident took place at Nat Lalbaba Manachar, along the Damodar River, an industrial and coal-mining area. Officers from Sonamukhi and Kanksa police stations recovered both bodies after being alerted to the incident. Sources at Sonamukhi station said arrangements were being made to send them for post-mortem examinations.
The accused was arrested on the same day of the alleged murders. However, he could not be produced before a court due to an injured finger. He was admitted to Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital for treatment, police said.
Context of violence against women
The incident comes as India tries to crack down on widespread violence against women and girls. According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), India recorded 471,000 reports of crimes against women in 2023, a nominal increase of 3% from the previous year. The violence was most likely to have come from home. The largest single category remained "cruelty by husband or relatives", at more than 31% of all crimes against women. NCRB captures reports to the police, though the true figures are expected to be much higher due to underreporting.
