Love Meets Social Barriers: Young Couple End Lives In Odisha After Denied Family Acceptance
The bodies of the couple were found hanging from a banyan tree near a sluice gate at Nao Mania in Mahantipatna village under Malikapur panchayat in Dasarathpur block on Tuesday morning, sending shockwaves across the area, police said on Wednesday.
Bhubaneswar: A young couple in Odisha’s Jajpur district allegedly died by suicide after reportedly being denied acceptance for their relationship and marriage.
The bodies of the couple were found hanging from a banyan tree near a sluice gate at Nao Mania in Mahantipatna village under Malikapur panchayat in Dasarathpur block on Tuesday morning, sending shockwaves across the area, police said on Wednesday.
The deceased were identified as Samir Das (25), son of Manguli Das of Ishwarpur village under Shushua panchayat, and Surekha Mallick (22), daughter of Rabindra Mallick of Mahantipatna village.
According to villagers, the couple had been in a relationship for a long time and wanted to get married. However, the relationship allegedly faced resistance from the woman’s family members, who were reportedly unwilling to approve the marriage.
Locals said the young woman had recently left her home and gone to Samir’s house, signalling her determination to stay with him. But family members allegedly persuaded her to return home, after which tensions surrounding the relationship reportedly intensified.
On Tuesday morning, villagers discovered the bodies hanging from the tree with a dupatta tied around their necks. What left many shaken was the appearance of the couple at the scene. Surekha was found wearing sindoor, a mangalsutra, bangles and alta on her feet, while traces of sindoor and alta were visible on Samir’s hands, suggesting that the two may have performed some form of marriage ritual shortly before ending their lives.
Samir had been working at a plywood company in Kerala and had returned to his village only a few days ago. According to family members, he had left home on Tuesday evening and never returned.
Police reached the spot after being informed by locals and have launched an investigation into the incident. The bodies were sent for post-mortem examination, and officials said all angles are being examined.
Residents in the area alleged that persistent opposition to the relationship may have pushed the couple into despair. Several villagers expressed anguish that the matter could perhaps have been resolved through dialogue and acceptance rather than ending in such a devastating loss.
