A retired South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) employee and his wife were allegedly murdered with an axe over a long-running land dispute in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district, with the accused later setting their bodies and house on fire in an attempt to portray the crime as an accidental blaze.

Police have arrested two brothers in connection with the double murder, which took place in Krondha village under the Dharamjaigarh police station limits.

Bodies Found Inside Burnt House

According to police, the charred bodies of Mangal Rathia (65), a retired SECL employee, and his wife Punei Bai Rathia (55) were discovered inside their house on July 15.

Following the incident, teams from the local police, forensic science laboratory (FSL), dog squad and senior officers reached the spot to collect evidence. A case of murder, destruction of evidence and other relevant offences was registered against unidentified persons, and an investigation was launched.

Land Dispute Led to Murder

During the investigation, police found that the victims had purchased four acres of agricultural land in Krondha village by offering a higher price than other prospective buyers.

Investigators said the land purchase had triggered a prolonged dispute with members of another family in the village.

According to police, the accused allegedly conspired to eliminate the elderly couple over the ownership dispute.

Police Dog Helped Crack the Case

A breakthrough came when the police dog squad tracked the scent from the axe allegedly used in the murder.

Police said the sniffer dog, Ruby, led investigators directly to one of the suspects, Shyam Lal Rathia. Subsequent forensic evidence, technical analysis and witness statements strengthened the case against him and his brother Jeevan Lal Rathia.

During interrogation, both accused allegedly confessed to the crime.

Killed With Axe, Bodies Burned

Police said the accused reached the victims' house on the night of July 14 carrying an axe.

As soon as Mangal Rathia opened the door, he was allegedly attacked repeatedly with the weapon. Hearing the commotion, his wife came outside and was also assaulted and killed.

To destroy evidence, the accused allegedly placed clothes, sofa covers and other household items over the bodies before setting them on fire. They also ignited two rooms of the house in an attempt to make the incident appear to be an accidental fire.

The accused allegedly fled after abandoning the murder weapon at the scene.

Weapon, Clothes Recovered

Based on the disclosure statements of the accused, police recovered the axe allegedly used in the crime along with the clothes worn during the incident.

Both accused—Shyam Lal Rathia (32) and Jeevan Lal Rathia (48), residents of Krondha village—were produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.

Police Warn Against Taking Law Into Own Hands

Raigarh Senior Superintendent of Police Shashi Mohan Singh said land disputes and personal conflicts should be resolved through legal means rather than violence.

He said the case demonstrated how scientific investigation, forensic evidence and police dog assistance helped solve a carefully planned crime and bring the accused to justice.

The investigation into the case is continuing.