In a bizarre incident, an Orissa youth beheaded his mother to "appease" a deity, police said on Wednesday.
The family of Jara Tirki, 22, of Patagaon village in Sundergarh district had been upset over Tirki's keeping a fast for some days and performing some rituals at home for goddess Tarini, police said.
His mother Janga, 45, suspecting him to be under the influence of black magic, invited a witch doctor for his "treatment". The witch doctor performed some rituals and left after tying a ribbon on Jara's neck.
Jara was furious at this. On Monday night, when all the family members were fast asleep, he brought out an axe and hacked his mother to death. He offered the mother's head to the deity at home and worshipped for a while, officials said.
He later buried the head. The family informed some villagers, who locked Jara in his house and notified the police. Jara was arrested following the complaint.
"We are investigating the matter to find out if there is any other reason behind the murder," said a district police official.