2 bodies found days apart and a possible suicide pact – Uttarakhand police try to crack mystery behind death of siblings

Upon further inspection, a number plate registered in Karnataka was found. The body was brought in for identification, and based on the number plate, efforts were made to identify the deceased.

“It was found that the woman’s name was Shweta Padma Senapati. It was also learnt that she and her brother, Sunil Senapati, lived in Dhak and had gone to the Bhavishya Badri temple on the evening of April 5. They were last seen at the incident site on their return,” said sub-inspector Devender Pant at Joshimath police station.

An FIR was registered against unknown persons at the police station, and an investigation was initiated. “A search operation was also launched to locate her missing brother, who was initially a suspect. CCTV cameras were checked, and phone surveillance and bank records were examined. It came to light that they previously lived in Bengaluru. To verify this, a team was sent there. Relatives were questioned, and they revealed that the siblings were facing financial hardship and frequently borrowed money. They used to say over the phone that they were in a grim situation and might even commit suicide, pleading for help,” Pant said.

On Thursday, a joint rescue operation by the ITBP, SDRF, DDRF, and a dog squad was conducted, and 400 meters down a deep gorge near the incident site, the body of the missing brother was found. The cause of death is under investigation and will only be confirmed after a post-mortem. “However, we suspect a suicide pact. The brother is suspected of having burnt the car and jumped to death. We are verifying this with available evidence,” Pant said.

The duo shifted to Chamoli four months ago and allegedly told their landlord that they were working remotely, police said. “They are originally from Odisha’s Rayagada and moved to Vizag in 2005. In 2012, they went to live in Bangalore,” Pant said.

Speaking to The Indian Express, the deceased’s cousin Avinash, who is based out of Rayagada, said that the duo, along with their brother, moved to Vizag after their parents died. “After they left, our contact also thinned. They would rarely call, and after leaving for Bangalore, they said they were living extravagantly. During Covid, their brother passed away, and they stopped calling us,” he said.

Avinash got a call from the police after they found his number in the phone found at the spot. “They called me to inquire and ascertain their identity. I was shocked; I did not even know they had moved to Chamoli,” he said.