A man allegedly killed his daughter and driver on the suspicion of an alleged love affair between them in Begusarai district of Bihar on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.
Rupam Kumari, the daughter, was allegedly in a love relationship with Nanu Babu Paswan, who is said to be already married.
Accused Karelal Rai and his wife, who has served as the former sarpanch or village head of Lakho Panchayat, have been taken into custody and are being interrogated, police said.
“Two bodies – one of a man and another of a minor girl have been found on a railway track under the jurisdiction of Lakho police station. The incident took place on Diwali night,” informed Nishit Priya, deputy superintendent of police (DSP), Begusarai.
Driver Nanu Babu started working as a driver of the accused around two years ago but quit the job around seven days before the murder took place.
As per local media reports, the family members of the girl were infuriated even since they came to know about their alleged affair.
After the murder, the bodies were thrown on a railway track so that their death looks like a result of a suicide bid.
On Tuesday, a huge protest broke out in the area with members of the aggrieved family along with locals blocking the National Highway-31, demanding justice for the man.
The blockage was lifted after block development officer Sudama Prasad reached the protest site and give assurance of compensation to the man’s family.
“The accused summoned the driver from his home and murdered him. We found the bodies near the railway track,” said a protester.
His father said that accused Karelal along with his associates picked up the man from his residence at around 1 am on Diwali night and took him away.
DSP Priya said that a forensic team will visit crime spots and collect evidence. “Further investigation is underway,” she added.
In recent months, Begusarai has seen rampant incidents of crime including daylight robbery, firing and murder.