Gumla (Jharkhand), February 23 – The bodies of a young man and a teenage girl were found hanging from a tree in the Suruhu village, under the jurisdiction of the Kamdara police station in the Gumla district of Jharkhand, on Monday, officials said.
The police recovered the bodies and sent them to the Gumla Sadar Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Initially, the case is suspected to be a suicide linked to a love affair. The deceased have been identified as Ramesh Cheek Baraik, 20, a resident of Akara Gabri Toli in Suruhu village, and Soni Kumari, 16, a resident of Podhotoli.
According to villagers, the bodies were found hanging from a tree near a pond. The police were informed about the incident. A large number of local residents also gathered at the scene.
Family members said that Soni Kumari had left home on the morning of February 21, stating that she was going to take a practical examination related to her matriculation. Baraik had also left around the same time. When the two did not return by late evening, their families began searching for them but were unable to locate them for two days.
The bodies were recovered from the tree near the village on Monday.
It has also come to light that Baraik reportedly uploaded a video on Instagram before taking the extreme step. In the video, he claimed that the two were in a relationship, but their families were not accepting it, which led him to take the decision.
The police are verifying the authenticity of the video and the circumstances surrounding it.
Mukesh Kumar Suman, the in-charge of the Kamdara Police Station, said that a bag and a water bottle were recovered from the scene. The police have conducted a 'panchnama' and initiated legal proceedings. The matter is being investigated from all angles.
The incident has caused shock and panic in the area. The village remains in mourning. The police said that the exact cause of death will be confirmed after the post-mortem report and completion of the investigation.
