A retired South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) employee and his wife were found partially burnt inside their house in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district on Wednesday, prompting police to investigate the case from multiple angles, including suspected murder.

The incident occurred in Krondha village under Dharamjaigarh police station limits, where the elderly couple had been living after retirement to manage their agricultural land. Police, forensic experts and a dog squad have been deployed to collect evidence from the scene.

Bodies Found Inside House

The deceased have been identified as Manglu Ram Rathia (65), a retired SECL loader operator, and his wife Punei Bai Rathia.

According to police, the couple was found dead inside their residence, with both bodies partially burnt. Bloodstains reportedly found near the woman's body have further strengthened suspicions of foul play, although investigators have not yet confirmed the exact cause of death.

The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination, and officials said the findings will be crucial in determining whether the deaths resulted from homicide or any other circumstances.

Couple Had Shifted for Farming

Family members said Manglu Ram Rathia retired from SECL around five years ago. After retirement, he purchased nearly four acres of agricultural land in Krondha village and built a house there to pursue paddy cultivation with his wife.

Originally from Auramuda village in Gharghoda, the couple had shifted to Krondha primarily for farming and had been residing there since acquiring the property.

Caretaker Alerted Villagers

According to the deceased's son-in-law, Veer Singh, a caretaker had been appointed to oversee the farmland and the house.

On Wednesday morning, the caretaker reportedly arrived at the property for routine work and discovered the incident. He immediately informed the village sarpanch and local residents, following which police were alerted.

Veer Singh said the circumstances strongly suggest murder, though investigators are awaiting forensic findings before drawing any conclusions.

Forensic Teams Examine Scene

Senior police officials, forensic experts and a dog squad reached the spot soon after receiving information.

Investigators conducted a detailed examination of the crime scene and collected physical evidence to establish the sequence of events. Police said all possible angles, including murder followed by an attempt to destroy evidence by setting the bodies on fire, are being examined.

Authorities have not disclosed whether any valuables were missing from the house or whether any suspects have been identified.

Police Await Post-Mortem Report

Officials said the exact cause of death will be established only after receiving the post-mortem report, forensic analysis and other scientific evidence.

Police have appealed to local residents to share any information that could assist the investigation and said further action will be taken based on the evidence collected.

Raigarh Among Districts Recording High Murder Cases

According to data from the Chhattisgarh Home Department, Raigarh registered 114 murder cases between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2026, placing it among the districts with the highest number of homicide cases in the state.

During the same period, Raipur recorded the highest number of murder cases at 169, followed by Jashpur and Raigarh with 114 cases each, while Durg and Surguja reported 113 murders each.

The investigation into the deaths of the retired SECL employee and his wife remains underway.