In a shocking incident, a 44-year-old woman sarpanch was on Thursday killed by her brother and nephew in Raipur, apparently because she performed the last rites of her mother.

Police said that Geeta Verma, sarpanch of Mohda village, was axed to death by her brother Santosh Verma (47) and nephew Piyush (25) this afternoon. Dharsinwa station house officer Alim Khan told PTI that both the men had been arrested.

Geeta's elder sister Sita also sustained injuries in the attack and was admitted to Dr Ambedkar hospital in Raipur. According to the preliminary probe, Santosh was furious because Geeta had performed the last rites of their 85-year-old mother who died on March 31.

Geeta's mother Surujbai was living with her after Santosh reportedly threw her out of the house. Though traditionally a male heir or relative performs the cremation rites, Geeta performed her mother's last rites as per the latter's deathbed wish, the officer said.

When Geeta and some other women in the family were walking towards a pond for post-cremation rites this afternoon, Santosh and his son attacked them, killing Geeta on the spot, Khan said.