Bhubaneswar, Jan. 1: A man killed his 35-year-old wife apparently because she had asked for money to buy household articles. The incident took place at Dumduma Housing Board Colony in Khandagiri police limits last night.

Police said the accused Rajendra Singh, 40, had an argument with his wife Sasmita last night after she demanded money from Singh to buy household articles.

"We suspect the accused strangulated her and then banged her head against the wall. The accused has been detained at the police station. He will be produced before the court tomorrow," said deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi.

The cops said that Rajendra, a vegetable seller by profession, had been staying at a rented accommodation at Dumuduma Housing Board Colony for the past 12 days. "The couple approached me to rent out my house two weeks ago and I had allowed it after keeping their identity proofs. Both the husband and wife seemed to be nice persons. I don't know what happened between them that led to this sad incident," said the house owner, N. Begam.

The cops said the couple had a daughter and a son.

Neighbours said that the accused pleaded ignorance about the reason behind his wife's death.

"He wished me for New Year this morning and later told me that my sister had died. When I asked about the reason of her death, he told me that he did not know how the incident took place," said brother of the deceased Tapan Singh, who stays in the same neighbourhood.

He also alleged that the accused was an alcoholic and this was often the reason behind frequent arguments between the couple.

In a similar incident in May 2015, the police had arrested a 29-year-old man for allegedly killing his wife in their rented accommodation near Shastri Nagar under Kharavela Nagar police limits.

The police later arrested the accused Kalinga Keshari Deo five months after the murder. The cops said the man killed his wife suspecting her of having extra marital affair.