Bhopal, June 27 (IANS) A day after the bodies of an elderly couple were found inside their locked house in Bhopal’s Sudama Nagar locality, police on Saturday said they were investigating the possibility of murder after recovering three empty cartridge cases from the scene.

The deceased, identified as 64-year-old Hemant Barik, a retired railway employee, and his 62-year-old wife, Shakuntala Barik, a retired nurse from Kasturba Hospital, were found dead inside their residence under the Aishbagh police station limits on Friday night after tenants and neighbours alerted police over a foul smell emanating from the house.

The latest findings have added a new dimension to the investigation.

Since the bodies were discovered nearly two days after the incident and were in an advanced state of decomposition, police said it was difficult to immediately ascertain the cause of death.

The recovery of three empty cartridge cases has prompted investigators to examine the murder angle along with other possibilities.

Additional Police Commissioner Shailendra Singh Chauhan said the crime scene had been sealed and forensic experts were examining all evidence collected from the house.

“Injury marks were found on both bodies and three empty cartridge cases have also been recovered from the spot. We are investigating every possible angle, including murder. The exact cause of death will be known only after the post-mortem and forensic science laboratory reports are received,” Chauhan said.

According to the police, a preliminary investigation revealed that the couple lived alone in the house, while a portion of the property had been rented out to students.

The tenants informed police after noticing that the couple had not come out of the house for two days and that a strong stench had begun emanating from the premises.

Investigators have also recorded statements from neighbours, who told police that the couple was last seen on the evening of June 24.

Police are also looking into reports that the couple frequently had domestic disputes, though officials said no conclusion had been reached.

“At this stage, we are examining all available evidence and recording statements of people connected with the couple. We are not ruling out any possibility until the forensic and post-mortem reports are available,” Chauhan said.

Police have sent the bodies for post-mortem examination and are awaiting forensic findings to determine the sequence of events leading to the deaths. Further investigation is underway.

–IANS

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