2 found hanging, police probe as autopsy report hints at murder

The possibility of foul play had been a topic of discussion in the village ever since the bodies were found, as both victims’ legs were reportedly “touching the ground” — raising doubts about the circumstances of their deaths, police said.

Both the victims, who were both local residents and neighbours, belonged to the backward class community, police said.

Local residents said the two were in a relationship and since their families — both involved in farming — found out about this nearly a year ago, there had been ongoing tensions between them.

Superintendent of Police, Kushinagar, Santosh Kumar Mishra, said the post-mortem was conducted by a panel of doctors and the entire procedure was videographed.

Mishra added that a case would be registered at the police station concerned and teams have been formed to investigate the matter.

Police said that on Wednesday morning, they received information that a local resident had spotted the two bodies. A police team reached the spot and sent the bodies for post-mortem examination. A forensic team was also called in.

The husband of the village pradhan claimed that there was no longstanding enmity between the two families (of the victims). He said the girl’s family told him that they began searching for her when she didn’t return home and continued looking throughout the night but

to no avail.

“We suspected foul play as both bodies were found with the legs touching the ground,” said the village pradhan’s husband.