In a sensational double murder, an eight-month pregnant woman and her minor sister were brutally axed to death in Sheikhupur village of Budaun district.
The incident took place late on Tuesday night. As her husband Kamal Singh was away working in Haryana, Lajwanti, the 22-year-old pregnant woman, had called her seven-year-old sister, Manju, to stay with her.
Lajwanti and her sister were sleeping in the courtyard when they were axed to death by the killers.
Police reports said that as per preliminary investigations, the two brothers of Kamal Singh committed the crime and were absconding.
According to reports, the two brothers used to beat their wives who had complained to the police and the brothers were detained on Tuesday afternoon at the police station. They were later released with a warning. Their wives were not at home when they returned.
The brothers, sources said, believed that Lajwanti was instigating their wives to file complaints with the police and decided to teach her and her sister a lesson. They killed Lajwanti and her sister with an axe and fled.
The woman and her sister were found dead on Wednesday morning. Kamal Singh was informed about the murder and he was on his way home from Haryana.
No complaint has yet been filed in the case. Police have sent both the bodies for post-mortem and have launched a hunt for both absconding brothers.
Meanwhile, in another incident, a couple, married three years back, reportedly committed suicide under suspicious circumstances in Sheikhpura Kadim village of Saharanpur city.
Surprisingly, the couple had purchased pooja material and other articles on Tuesday to celebrate `Karva Chauth’, the day on which women fast for the long life of their husbands. Both, however, were found dead on Wednesday afternoon.
While the body of the woman was found hanging from the ceiling, the husband ended his life by consuming poison.
Soon after learning about the incident Senior Superintendent of Police Vipin Tanda along with other officers including SP (City) and ASP, reached the spot for investigation. Both the bodies were sent for autopsy.
Reports said that Shubham (24), a native of Sheikhpura Kadim in the Kotwali area of Saharanpur, used to work as a painter. Three years ago, he was married to Sonam (23), a native of Landoura village in Roorkee. On Wednesday afternoon, Sonam's body was found hanging in a room of the house. Shubham's body was lying on the cot.
Shubham's mother Taravati was sleeping in the same room. Shubham's nephews saw him lying dead and informed the family members. The local police also reached the spot with forensic experts.
SSP Dr Vipin Tada said that investigations indicated that both had committed suicide but the motive was yet to be confirmed by the family members. The family claimed that they purchased all pooja materials for Sonam to keep fast on Karva Chauth but they were not aware what went wrong and why both ended their lives.
Some neighbours claimed that the couple had no issue even after three years of their marriage and there was a tiff over the matter a few months back but they said that both Shubham and Sonam loved each other and they never saw them fighting over any issue.
Further investigations are on.