A tragic and perplexing case has emerged as the hanging bodies of a couple were discovered behind the famous Jogeshwar Peeth Shiva Temple in Dharambandha police jurisdiction in Nuapada district.
The deceased were identified as Rajesh Thakur (26), son of Shravan Thakur from Kamaraj village, Chhattisgarh, and Lalita Thakur (20), daughter of Sej Kumar Thakur from Dadar village.
On Thursday afternoon, police recovered the bodies and handed them over to their families after a post-mortem. Whether the case is one of suicide or murder remains unclear. Suspicious circumstances, however, have sparked debates, with some villagers alleging foul play.
The couple reportedly had a romantic relationship despite opposition from their families, especially since Rajesh was already married. Both individuals went missing on the morning of March 22. The tragic discovery was made near Kushadaha stream, in a jungle, where villagers found the couple’s bodies hanging from a tree with a dupatta.
Preliminary investigations suggest the bodies had been there for 3-4 days, as they were found decomposing. Police officers, led by SI Binod Sethi, have registered two cases of unnatural death and initiated further inquiries. Officials stated that the couple may have committed suicide due to family rejection of their relationship.
However, suspicions arose as their feet were found touching the ground, leading locals to believe it could be a premeditated murder disguised as a suicide. Residents have urged a high-level investigation to uncover the truth behind the tragic deaths.
