The charred bodies of a couple, who had eloped in 2022 to get married, were found in a forest area in Sonbhadra district on Saturday.

The police suspect that the couple – Pankaj Chauhan, 25 and Bandani Chauhan, 20 – committed suicide.

Additional Superintendent of Police Tribhuvan Nath Tripathi said police recovered some articles near the bodies that suggested the duo might have consumed poison before setting themselves on fire.

What prompted them to take the extreme step is being investigated.

The incident came to light when residents of Sirsiya Thakurai village saw smoke billowing from nearby Thakurai jungle late in the evening. They rushed to the spot and alerted the police on seeing the bodies.

Initial investigation led to the identification of the deceased as Pankaj and Bandani. The articles found near their bodies included a petrol container, poison, a matchbox and a blanket, suggesting that the couple entered the jungle with the intention of ending their lives.

Probe revealed the couple had been in a relationship for several years and desired to get married, but their families opposed the union.

Pankaj was booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on charges of kidnapping and rape after he eloped with Bandani, who was a minor then. He was arrested and after his release on bail, the couple reconnected.

Meanwhile, in a shocking incident reported from Bhadohi, a man killed his wife and later died by suicide.

According to police, the man used a sickle to slit the wife’s throat. He later used the same murder weapon to kill himself.

The incident happened on Saturday evening.

According to the police the murder and the suicide were witnessed by a 7-year-old girl, who was the couple’s niece.

Circle Officer Prabhat Rai said the crime was reported from Dasyupur Deegh village in Bhadohi.

The man was later identified as Rajesh Nishad, who killed his wife Shanno Nishad.

According to initial investigations, the couple had been married eight years ago but did not have any children. This led to frequent fights between the couple. After one such fight, the 28-year-old Shanno left for her elder sister’s house, around four days back. Her husband followed her there on Friday. Both had an argument on Saturday evening, according to police. In a fit of rage, Rajesh Nishad picked up a sickle and hacked his wife to death.

The murder was witnessed by the niece of Shanno. The child then raised an alarm. Before family members arrived, Rajesh killed himself.

The police immediately rushed to the spot after getting information about the crime. They recovered the murder weapon (sickle) used in the killing. The police then sent the bodies for post-mortem and started an investigation in the case. They are investigating from all angles and are not just focusing on the theory that the murder took place following an argument. Family members are also being questioned regarding the nature of relationship between the couple.