Rourkela/Berhampur, Dec. 24: A 28-year-old man was hacked to death in an alleged case of revenge killing here yesterday.

Rajesh Prasad allegedly attacked Akash Prasad, who worked in a gas and electrical repair shop. He was hit twice on the neck and the back.

Akash tried to enter a house for shelter. However, the assailant pursued him and hacked him to death. He was admitted to the Ispat General Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

The complaint lodged by the deceased's family members with city police said it was a case of revenge killing.

The duo were neighbours at Kabi Samratpali, near Sector-5, and distant relatives.

On September 15 last year, Rajesh's wife Charulata committed suicide by hanging. Rajesh had later learnt that she had been to Akash's house before her death.

He started suspecting Akash of killing her and had an altercation with him.

"Rajesh lodged a complaint against Akash the next day with Sector-7 police station and accused him of killing his wife. The cops arrested Akash in the case," said Rourkela superintendent of police Aniruddha Singh.

However, the post-mortem report revealed that the woman had committed suicide by hanging. Neighbours said Rajesh could not tolerate Akash after that and tensions between them were high.

"Yesterday, he came with a sharp weapon and the complainant has accused him of killing Akash. We are searching for him," said Singh.

In another incident, Prakash Beherdalai, 58, stabbed his visually challenged wife Jhunu, 57, to death inside an old-age home at Baliguda in Kandhamal district yesterday.

He was in a drunk state, said police.

"We have arrested Prakash and seized the weapon. He tried escape after attacking the victim but was overpowered by the old-age home staff and local residents," said Baliguda police station inspector-in-charge Jaswant Kumar Hial.

Soon after the crime, the assailant consumed poisonous fruits in a suicide attempt. "We have admitted him at Baliguda hospital and his condition is stable," said Hial.

"Prakash was thrashed by the staff and local residents before he was handed over to us. We will interrogate Prakash after he recovers," said the inspector.

Prakash, a daily wager, and Jhunu resided in Bundaguda village in Saranga about 40km away from Baliguda and had three children. Prakash was a habitual drunk and they had frequent fights.

"Since October 3, Jhunu had been staying at the home," said Banabasi Seva Samiti joint secretary Rabindra Panda.<>Jhunu was given shelter at the old-age home after she asked to be allowed to stay there at a grievance meeting held by the district collector. Jhunu has said she wanted to escape her husband's torture.