Agra: The deaths by suicide of a husband and wife, within hours of each other, have thrown up serious questions about what might have led the two, both armed forces personnel, to take the extreme step.
Captain Renu Tanwar, 28, of the Indian Army died by suicide Tuesday in New Delhi, hours after she was informed about her 32-year-old husband Flight Lieutenant Deen Dayal Deep’s death by suicide in his quarters at the Air Force station in Agra.
Police sources told ThePrint a suspected dispute between the two families could have resulted in the deaths.
Captain Tanwar’s family took her body to her ancestral home in Rajasthan instead of honouring her last wish to be cremated alongside her husband, while Flight Lieutenant Deep, from Morara village in Bihar’s Nalanda district, was cremated in Agra, sources added.
Delhi police reportedly recovered a suicide note from Captain Tanwar’s room in which she stated that her last rites should be performed alongside her husband, her hand placed in his.
Captain Tanwar, who was in the military nursing service (MNS), was posted at the Military Hospital, Agra Cantt. She had travelled to Delhi on 14 October for her mother Kaushalya’s treatment and was staying at the Officers Guest House in Delhi Cantt.
He cracked jokes at dinner
Before he went to sleep Monday in his quarters at the Air Force Station in Agra, fellow airmen said Flight Lieutenant Deep was laughing and cracking jokes at dinner.
The staff broke his door down when he did not emerge till late Tuesday morning, and found him hanging from the ceiling fan. He reportedly left no suicide note.
Shahganj police officers took down the body which was suspended from a noose made out of a bedsheet. Deputy Commissioner Suraj Kumar Rai said an investigation into the matter is ongoing to determine why the couple took their lives.
Assistant Commissioner of Police in Agra Mayank Tiwari said Flight Lieutenant Deep was cremated with full military honours at 11 am Thursday at the electric crematorium near the Taj Mahal in the presence of Indian Air Force (IAF) officials. He confirmed the body of Captain Tanwar was not brought to Agra.
The IAF, Army and the Agra police are probing the deaths while the families remain incommunicado.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
If you are feeling suicidal or depressed, please call a helpline number in your state.
Also read: Flight lieutenant from Bihar ‘dies by suicide’ at Agra Air Force station. IAF launches probe