Panic spread across Khawa Pokhar village in Ikauna police station area after the bodies of former village head Mohammad Roshan (80) and his wife Waseela (60) were discovered under suspicious circumstances early Sunday morning.
According to police, Roshan’s body was found lying on the floor inside his house with blood oozing from his nose. His wife’s body was found about 50 steps away in nearby bushes, bearing injuries around the eyes and visible bleeding marks.
The elderly couple had been living alone for several years in their ancestral home. Their two sons, Guddu and Pullu, live with their families barely 100 meters away.
Guddu, the elder son, spotted his mother’s bloodied body while leaving for morning prayers at around 5 a.m. When he rushed inside the house, he found his father dead as well.
Police arrived soon after being informed and sent both bodies for post-mortem examination. A forensic team also inspected the scene.
Family members alleged that the couple may have been murdered due to a long-standing land dispute. According to them, Roshan owned three small shops (about 30 square feet each) in the Ikauna market, which had recently become the center of a conflict with a man identified as Rinku Tripathi.
They claimed that Tripathi had fraudulently taken possession of the property by executing a fake sale deed. Roshan had lodged an FIR at the Ikauna police station, and the matter was under investigation.
Villagers said that Roshan and Waseela had lived alone for years, with minimal contact even with their sons. The couple reportedly cooked and managed all their daily chores themselves.
The family also mentioned that Roshan’s grandson, Sonu, son of Guddu, once worked as a driver for local MLA Rampheren Pandey. Guddu and Pullu had previously worked as laborers in Mumbai before returning to the village following a property division.
Ikauna SHO Akhilesh Pandey stated that the cause of death would be determined only after the post-mortem report is released.
“The family suspects murder. We are investigating all possible angles,” he said. Circle Officer Bharat Paswan also confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and that no conclusions can be drawn yet.