HYDERABAD: The investigation into the deaths of a couple found on railway tracks between Bibinagar and Ghatkesar on July 2 has taken a new turn, with police probing allegations of forced religious conversion.According to Railway Police, the loco pilot of a train spotted two bodies on the tracks at around 10. 10pm and alerted the deputy station superintendent at Ghatkesar.The information was then passed to the Secunderabad deputy SS and the Secunderabad Railway Police Station, news agency ANI reported.A Railway Police head constable reached the spot and inspected the scene.While shifting the bodies to Gandhi Hospital for post-mortem, police found a motorcycle parked nearby.The keys recovered from the deceased man’s pocket matched the motorcycle.Using the vehicle registration details and a mobile phone found with him, police identified the deceased as a 42-year-old rice trader and his 33-year-old wife, both residents of Pedda Amberpet.Police said the couple had left home together on the motorcycle at around 7. 30pm that evening.Prima facie, officials are treating it as a case of death by jumping in front of a moving train. The exact cause of death is under investigation, ANI reported.The couple is survived by two sons, aged 12 and 13.Secunderabad Railway Police said the couple’s elder son alleged that neighbours had pressured his parents to convert to Christianity.“The elder son of the deceased couple is saying that his neighbours forced his parents to convert to Christianity. We are investigating and collecting evidence,” a police official said.The official added, “The neighbours belonged to the SC community and the deceased were from the BC community. The neighbours are in business, while the deceased were involved in the rice trade.”Further investigation in this regard is currently underway, officials said.(With agency input)
