The residents of Basanti in the South 24 Parganas witnessed the horrifying sight of a man carrying a severed head of a woman in one hand and a chopper in the other hand on Saturday morning.

The deceased has been identified as Sati Mondal, the wife of the elder brother of the accused Bimal Mondal, both residents of Bharatgarh in Basanti block.

Eyewitnesses said they saw the two arguing in the field, and then, suddenly, Bimal Mondal took out the chopper and attacked his sister-in-law, who died on the spot. Thereafter, Bimal Mondal headed to the local police station to surrender, carrying the murder weapon and the severed head, while the headless body lay on the field.

Palab Chandra Dhali, Superintendent of Police, Baruipur Police District, told The Indian Express, “The accused has been detained, we are investigating the motive, and all necessary legal action will be taken.”

According to police sources, a dispute relating to the family property had been brewing between the two sides for some time now. They added that the son of the accused absconded after the murder, although the wife of the accused has been informally put under house arrest.

Bimal Mondal reportedly showed no remorse when he surrendered before the police.

An eyewitness also said that the accused was heard cursing the victim and her husband on his way to the police station. “He screamed that he had paid back for the injustice done to him for so many years. His rage was so intense that no one dared to stop him while he was roaming around with the weapon and the severed head, though some passers-by captured the video on their mobile phones,” he added.