Tragedy in Banda: Young Family of Three Found Dead in Rented House, Police Suspect Murder-Suicide

In a deeply disturbing and tragic incident that has sent shockwaves through Uttar Pradesh’s Banda district, three members of a young family—including a three-month-old infant—were found dead under suspicious circumstances in their rented residence in the town of Atarra on Saturday.

According to officials, the bodies were discovered in an advanced state of decomposition, suggesting that the deaths had occurred several days prior.

The deceased have been identified by the police as Jitendra Kumar Prajapati, aged 23, his 20-year-old wife Gaura, and their infant son. The young couple had reportedly been married for just over a year, having tied the knot in April of the previous year, and were living in a rented room in the Atarra area.

According to preliminary investigations by the local police, Jitendra Prajapati, who worked as a daily-wage labourer in the state of Gujarat, is believed to have returned to his hometown earlier in the week, on Wednesday.

What followed appears to be a sequence of harrowing events that ended in a murder-suicide, though officials caution that the inquiry is still ongoing and no conclusion has yet been finalized.

Police officials suspect that Jitendra may have first killed his wife by slitting her throat, possibly during a violent altercation related to ongoing family disputes.

The exact cause of the infant’s death remains unclear at this stage, and the post-mortem examination reports are being awaited to establish whether the child died from physical trauma, suffocation, or some other cause.

Palash Bansal, the Superintendent of Police for Banda district, confirmed the details to the media and stated that the post-mortem process had been completed for all three bodies.

However, Bansal added that definitive conclusions regarding the infant’s cause of death could only be made after the final medical reports are received. “We are awaiting the full findings. Only then can we confirm what exactly happened to the baby,” he said.

As part of their investigation, the police have also discovered a suicide note allegedly written by Jitendra, which appears to shed light on the mental and emotional turmoil that may have led to the tragic events.

This note was reportedly shared by Jitendra in a family WhatsApp group on May 8, just two days before the bodies were discovered.

In the message, Jitendra made serious allegations against his in-laws, claiming that they had been harassing him and threatening to frame him in a false case.

The threats, he alleged, were linked to the recent disappearance of Gaura’s younger sister, who had reportedly gone missing several days earlier. The note suggests that Jitendra felt cornered, isolated, and fearful of the consequences of these accusations.

“We are taking the suicide note seriously, but it is only one part of the puzzle,” SP Bansal said. “Our investigators are exploring every possible angle, including the role of family dynamics, psychological stress, and external pressures.”

Neighbors had reportedly not seen the family for several days and had begun to notice a foul smell emanating from the locked room, which eventually prompted them to alert the landlord and the authorities.

Upon forced entry, police made the grim discovery of the three lifeless bodies, which had already begun decomposing, suggesting the deaths occurred at least two to three days before their discovery.

The incident has deeply shaken the local community in Atarra, where residents are struggling to come to terms with the shocking loss of an entire family, especially a child so young.

Many are also raising questions about the broader issue of mental health, family disputes, and the lack of adequate support systems for struggling couples in semi-urban and rural parts of India.

Local leaders and social workers have called for a more proactive role by authorities in addressing domestic disputes and psychological distress among working-class families, particularly those living away from extended family support systems.

As the police continue their investigation, forensic teams are also assisting in gathering evidence from the crime scene, and digital forensic experts are examining the contents of the WhatsApp group and mobile devices to trace communication patterns leading up to the incident.

Meanwhile, both families—of the husband and the wife—are being questioned to understand the full scope of the family conflict and to determine whether any external parties may have played a role, directly or indirectly, in escalating the situation.

The tragedy is a somber reminder of how quickly domestic tensions can spiral into irreversible outcomes, especially when there is an absence of conflict resolution mechanisms or emotional support.

The final autopsy report is expected to offer more concrete answers, but for now, the Banda police have urged the public and the media to refrain from speculation, assuring that justice will be pursued through a thorough and impartial investigation.