A young woman dressed as a bride was shot dead by her paramour in Agra who then turned the gun on himself, police said Tuesday.
Malti, 19, a resident of village Lakhnamai of Etmadpur tehsil of Agra district, was in a relationship with her cousin Sonu, 25, for the past two years, villagers told the police.
But their love story took a tragic turn Monday, a few days short of Valentine's Day Feb 14, the day when she was slated to marry someone else.
A cousin of Malti told police that Sonu called her to meet him around 7 p.m. Malti told her family members that she was going to answer nature's call but never returned.
After a long wait, the family members went searching for her, but found the two lying in a pool of blood late Monday.
The woman was all decked up as a bride and had been shot in the temple by Sonu who then shot himself, police said.
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Villagers took Sonu to the hospital, but he collapsed on the way. Senior police officers reached the village late Monday to investigate.
A cousin of the deceased woman told the police that before killing themselves the couple got married and exchanged garlands.
However, Senior Superintendent of Police Rajesh Modak said it could be a case of murder and suicide, and that investigations are on. The firearm used and mobile phones have not been found.
A senior police officer who did not wish to be named said it could also be a case of honour killing.