Keonjhar, Oct. 9: A 36-year-old man and his wife were axed to death over past enmity allegedly by their neighbour at Hesabeda village in the Bamiaberi police station limits late last night.

Police today arrested the accused, Pradeep Munda, and seized the weapon used in the crime. The deceased have been identified Suresh Munda and his wife Manish Munda, 32, a mother of four, police said.

“There had been a dispute between Suresh and Pradeep, his immediate neighbour, for the past couple of months. Around 11pm last night, Pradeep had a quarrel with Suresh and his wife. He took an axe and hit Manish, killing her on the spot. When Suresh came to save Manish, he, too, was allegedly hacked to death,” said Pabitra Mohanta, an eyewitness.

Pabitra rushed to local police station and lodged an FIR.

“In the morning, we went to the spot and arrested the accused, who was trying to hide after committing the crime, and seized the weapon (axe),” said inspector in charge of Bamiaberi police station James Samad.

Enmity between families of the accused and the deceased is stated to be the reason behind the killings, Samad said.

The bodies have been sent to district headquarters hospital for post-mortem and a case has been registered under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code.