Two sisters die of poisoning in Jodhpur on eve of Wedding, Police probe family pressure angle

The post-mortem examination of two sisters who were found dead at Manai village near Jodhpur has confirmed poisoning as the cause of death, police said on Monday, as investigators continued to probe whether the incident was a case of suicide linked to family pressure over marriage alliances.

The victims, identified as Shobha (25) and Vimla (23), were scheduled to be married on Saturday, with wedding preparations underway on Friday night. Their bodies were discovered early Friday morning, just hours before the wedding processions were to arrive.

Soorsagar Police Station House Officer Harishchandra Solanki said the medical board conducting the post-mortem confirmed poisoning, though no poisonous substance was recovered from the scene. Viscera samples have been preserved and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory to ascertain the exact substance consumed. Police are also examining the possibility of a drug overdose.

As part of the investigation, the police have seized the mobile phones of both sisters to examine call records, messages, and social media activity. Their father, Deep Singh, has also been questioned to determine whether the deaths were the result of suicide or involved other factors such as family disputes or external pressure.

Police said the sisters, who were employed at a private school, were believed to be unhappy with their marriage arrangements. According to investigators, the two were initially engaged to men from Bhinmal through their maternal uncle. However, the alliance was later called off, allegedly by their father under pressure from the uncle.

Subsequently, new matches were arranged with two cousins from Jaimla village near Pokaran. The maternal uncle has claimed that the sisters were distressed and unhappy with the revised arrangement, which may have led them to take the extreme step.

Following the incident, the families of the grooms, who had completed all wedding preparations, immediately sought alternative matches. On Saturday, both grooms were married to other brides, one in Balesar in Jodhpur district and the other in Kolayat in Bikaner district according to Aman Singh, the sarpanch of Jaimla village.

Police said further action would be taken after forensic reports are received and all angles of the case are examined.