Live-in partners end lives, one after another

A live-in couple from Nawanshahr has met a tragic end following domestic disputes, with both partners ending their own lives within a day.

Richa Bhardwaj, a 33-year-old woman, reportedly ended her life by hanging herself on January 10 at her home in Mandhali village near Phagwara.

Kapil, brother of the deceased, said his sister was married to Delhi resident Raghav and had a 11-year-old son but later she developed extra-marital relations with Sunil Kumar and was living in village Madhali near Phagwara.

Kapil, resident of Delhi, told the police that his sister had been living with Sunil Kumar, alias Sunny, in a live-in relationship for the past five years. The relationship, however, turned sour due to frequent arguments and allegations of abuse.

Local residents revealed that disputes between the couple had escalated over the past year. Efforts by the community and relatives to reconcile them proved futile. On the fateful day, Richa’s mother received a call informing her about the tragedy.

The day after Richa’s death, Sunny also ended his life by hanging himself in a hotel room on the Banga-Mukerian road. The hotel staff discovered his body hanging in the room on January 11.

Police investigations revealed that Sunny had convinced Richa to leave her marital home five-year-ago, bringing her and her son to Mandali village. Despite purchasing a house together, their relationship was fraught with conflicts.