Bihar: Couple charred to death in Supaul, dispute suspected

PATNA: Police recovered the charred bodies of a couple from their bedroom at Takla Nirwali in ward number 27 under Town police station area in Supaul on Wednesday.
The deceased had been identified as Ramchandra Mukhiya (47) and his wife Sunaina Devi (40). Police said the bodies were charred beyond recognition and the cause of fire could not be ascertained.
SHO Dinanath Mandal said Ramchandra’s younger brother Ramlakhan Mukhiya and his wife were detained on suspicion of hatching a murder plot.“They lived in an adjacent room of the house built by Ramchandra after taking Rs 8 lakh loan. Both brothers were having dispute over the property,” he said.
Mandal said Ramchandra’s 12-year-old daughter survived as she was at a neighbour’s house. “The girl said her mother used to keep her at a neighbour’s house due to the family dispute and to protect her from thrashing by Ramlakhan,” he said.
He said the son of Ramchandra’s brother-in-law had submitted a written complaint alleging that Ramlakhan and his wife had killed them for property. “Investigation is going on,” he said.
The SHO said the villagers had informed the police about the fire. “Every item in the room was reduced to ashes while the adjacent room was safe. Ramchandra was also paralytic,” he said.
“Forensic experts from Bhagalpur would reach Supaul on Thursday morning. Police might come to know the reason of fire after their investigation,” he said, adding the bodies were handed over to Ramchandra’s in-laws for performing the last rites.
He said Ramlakhan and his wife were being quizzed in connection with the case.