Police probe twin theories as hanging husband and wife's body on cot raise unanswered questions

A middle-aged couple was found dead under mysterious circumstances in their locked house in Tivni village on Wednesday morning, leaving investigators grappling with two possible theories – murder followed by suicide, or a fatal shock that may have triggered a heart attack.

The bodies of Ramnivas Kori, 45, and his wife Shakuntala, 43, were discovered around 9 am inside a room whose door was bolted from within. While Ramnivas was found hanging from a noose, Shakuntala's body lay motionless on a wooden cot. No external injuries or bloodstains have been reported so far.

Father Breaks Open Door

Mangal Kori, the deceased man's father, had been away at his fields on Tuesday night. When he returned home around 8 am on Wednesday, repeated knocking and calling out drew no response from the couple. Growing anxious, he called a neighbour and managed to force open a rear door.

What he saw inside left him screaming. The commotion woke up the couple's 18-year-old son Jeeshu, who had been sleeping on the terrace. Within minutes, other villagers gathered outside the house as word spread.

Two Competing Theories

Police and the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team are examining the scene from multiple angles. According to officials, one line of investigation suggests that Ramnivas may have strangled his wife before hanging himself. However, investigators are also exploring a second possibility – that the husband died by suicide first, and the wife suffered a cardiac arrest upon discovering his body.

"We are waiting for the autopsy and FSL reports to determine the exact sequence of events. No suicide note has been recovered from the spot," a local police officer said.

Sources familiar with the matter said the absence of struggle marks or visible injuries on Shakuntala's body makes the heart attack theory plausible, though nothing has been ruled out yet.

Just Two Days After Returning Home

The family is still struggling to understand what led to the tragedy. Ramnivas worked as a truck driver for a businessman in Rewa and also helped his family with farming. He had returned to Tivni only two days ago, according to his father.

"There is no reason we can think of that would push them to this," Mangal Kori told reporters at the scene, visibly distraught.

The couple's son Jeeshu, now the lone surviving child, has been questioned by police along with other relatives to reconstruct the events leading up to Tuesday night.

Forensic Evidence Being Collected

An FSL team has collected samples from the room, including fingerprints and possible ligature marks. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination, which will confirm whether Shakuntala's death resulted from strangulation, poisoning, or a medical event such as a heart attack.

Local authorities have appealed to villagers not to speculate while the investigation is underway. Officials said a clearer picture is expected within 48 hours once forensic reports arrive.