Paradip, Aug. 6: A newly- married pregnant woman was hacked to death by her husband at a village in Balikuda police limits in Jagatsinghpur district.

The husband suspected his wife of having an extramarital relationship.

After committing the crime, the man surrendered before police and handed over the murder weapon.

The accused, Harsha Bardhan Swain, 30, a native of Bilinuagaon village, had brought the victim Rinki Swain, 26, for a medical check-up at Balikuda Community Health Centre yesterday after Rinki, who was six-months pregnant, developed complications. While returning home, he stabbed her to death with a knife at a deserted spot. He then dumped the body in a field near the Dasamatia-Ichhapur road. Swain surrendered before the police 30 minutes after committing the murder.

"He was unrepentant. It was a cold-blooded murder," said inspector in charge of Balikuda police station Balaram Nayak.

"We are investigating whether there was any other motive," said Nayak.

The body has been sent for post-mortem. The accused had stabbed the victim over a dozen of times. A case of murder under the Section 302 of IPC was registered against the accused. After interrogation, he will be remanded in judicial custody tomorrow, the police officer added.