Councillor, daughter found dead at home

Satyam Yadav, the 26-year-old Congress councillor from ward no. 43, and her one-and-ahalf year old daughter were found dead on Thursday under mysterious circumstances. Yadav’s body was found at her house in Nangloi area of west Delhi.

The parents of the deceased, who hail from Uttar Pradesh, alleged she has been murdered for dowry. Her in-laws denied the allegations and called it suicide. Yadav’s parents have registered a complaint at the Nangloi police station against her in-laws alleging she was killed for dowry.

The incident was reported to the police on Thursday at 8.15 am. The call was made by her in-laws. Reportedly, at around 8 am, Pawan Yadav, her husband, found the door of her bedroom locked from inside. On failing to get any response, he broke open the door and found Satyam hanging from a ceiling fan and their daughter Vanshika lying unconscious on the bed. Both mother an daughter, according to the police, were immediately taken to the nearby hospital where they were declared brought dead. A senior police official said, ‘Prima facie it looks like Satyam might have murdered her daughter after which she committed suicide by hanging herself.’ Her husband and other family members are being questioned. Also neighbours, close friends and few politicians were questioned by the police. ‘It will be too early to reach any conclusion. No suicide note has been recovered,’ said ACP (West) V Rangnathan. He added that sub-divisional magistrate has also begun inquest in the case.

Prashant, the deceased’s brother, said: ‘Pawan’s family demanded dowry. The inlaws restricted her visit to her relatives.They also became unhappy with her as she delivered a girl child.’

‘On Wednesday, there was a function at my residence in Bulandshahr. The in-laws told her she could go only if she got Rs.10 lakhs in cash and a Honda city car,’ Prashant told the police. However, Lala Ram Yadav, father-in-law of the deceased, denied the allegations.