Punjab man ends life over doubts about wife’s character, unaware she died by suicide days earlier; 3 children orphaned | Chandigarh News

PATIALA: A tragic mix of misunderstanding and mistrust led to an alleged double suicide in Pooniwal village, Bhadson block, Patiala district of Punjab. Gurmeet Singh, 42, ended his life, unaware that his wife, Manpreet Kaur, had died by suicide days earlier.Police identified the deceased as Gurmeet Singh and Manpreet Kaur. They had frequent quarrels over Gurmeet’s suspicions regarding Manpreet’s character, according to police. On 29 June, following another argument, Manpreet left home with their three children—two daughters, aged 10 and 20, and a 17-year-old son.Manpreet drove the children to Gurdwara Jyoti Swarup in Fatehgarh Sahib. Near the shrine, she instructed them to continue on their two-wheeler, saying she would follow on foot. She did not return.The children returned to their maternal grandmother’s house in Bhanupoli village near Anandpur Sahib, believing their mother was still missing.On the evening of 3 July, Gurmeet Singh hanged himself from a ceiling fan at home. Investigating officers found a video message on his mobile phone in which he alleged that Manpreet had eloped with someone and blamed her, his mother-in-law, and brother-in-law for his suicide.During the inquiry, Bhadson police distributed photos of unidentified bodies recovered across the district. Station House Officer Gurpreet Singh Handa said Manpreet Kaur’s body was identified from photographs shared by Tripuri police in Patiala, who had retrieved her remains from the Bhakra canal two days earlier.“Gurmeet Singh believed his wife had deserted him, while Manpreet Kaur was distressed by the constant quarrels and suspicions,” the SHO said.Police registered a case against Manpreet’s mother and brother under relevant sections based on Gurmeet’s video statement and are continuing the investigation.