Baripada, Aug. 2: A 25-year-old man surrendered before Mayurbhanj police after hacking an elderly couple to death, suspecting them to be practising witchcraft.

Last evening, the accused, after reaching Sarat police station with the weapon of offence, confessed the crime. The police today produced the accused in court. The deceased couple, identified as Ankura Purti, 65, and his wife Mukta Purti, 60, belonged to Dhanusahi village of Sarat.

The accused, Birsingh Bari of the same village, whose three family members had died in the past three years, suspected that the Purti couple had used sorcery to kill them. Bari said his two younger brothers, Kedar Bari, 12, Gana Bari, 10, and sister Luduri Bari had died of unknown diseases.

On Thursday night, the accused killed both of them with an axe. Bari surrendered before the police last evening.

Sub-divisional police officer K.C. Nayak said: “The youth had a strong suspicion that the three deaths had occurred in his family due to the Purti’s black magic effect. He was in an agitating state of mind and was searching for a chance to kill the couple to avenge the miseries on his family.”

The couple were residing alone near the forest after their daughters were married off. Their only son lives outside the region.

“The accused was produced in court today,” said Nayak.