Bodies discovered after family alerted police when couple failed to turn up for work
Udaipur, Aug 14 — The decomposed bodies of a 65-year-old man and his 62-year-old wife were recovered from a wooden trunk inside their home in Punawali village, police said on Friday, two days after the couple went missing.
The deceased have been identified as Lahri Lal Paliwal, 65, who earned his livelihood as a milk seller, and his wife Radha Devi, 62, Udaipur SHO Shaitan Singh Nathawat said. According to the police, the couple were last seen on Wednesday morning and were reported missing when Lahri Lal did not turn up for routine milk deliveries.
How the bodies were found
Family members and neighbours mounted a search after the husband failed to make his rounds. The house door was found open, but there was no sign of the couple. Their son, Manohar, who works in Rajkot, Gujarat, was informed and he asked relatives to check the home. Relatives returned on Friday, when a foul smell was noticed inside the premises.
On investigating the source of the odour, they opened a trunk in the house and found the bodies wrapped in a plastic bag. Bedding had reportedly been placed over the trunk in what the police said appeared to be an attempt to conceal it.
Police action and investigation
The SHO said police suspect the couple may have been killed late on Tuesday night and that investigations are in progress. Officers are questioning a number of suspects and local residents as part of the probe. The exact cause of death will be confirmed after post‑mortem examinations, the police added.
- Victims: Lahri Lal Paliwal, 65 (milk seller) and Radha Devi, 62
- Location: Punawali village, Udaipur district
- Reported missing: Since Wednesday morning; bodies found Friday
- Discovery: Bodies wrapped in plastic, concealed in a trunk with bedding over it
- Investigation: Suspects and locals being questioned; post‑mortems pending
Local impact and context
The incident has shocked residents of Punawali, a rural pocket where livelihoods such as milk vending remain common. Such violent deaths in small villages often strain local policing resources and raise concerns about safety for elderly residents who live alone.
Police teams from the local station are continuing door‑to‑door enquiries and speaking with neighbours to establish timelines and possible motives. The involvement of relatives from outside the district — the couple’s son is based in Rajkot — also illustrates how rural families can be dispersed, occasionally delaying discovery when older members fall out of routine.
What happens next
Authorities will conduct post‑mortem examinations to determine the cause and time of death. Forensic teams may be asked to examine the trunk and the house for fingerprints, fibres and other evidence. Any arrests or formal charges will depend on the forensic findings and witness statements collected during the ongoing probe.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Village | Punawali, Udaipur district |
| Victims | Lahri Lal Paliwal (65), Radha Devi (62) |
| Discovery | Bodies found inside a trunk, wrapped in plastic; bedding used to cover it |
| Current status | Suspects and locals being questioned; post‑mortem pending |
Advice for residents
Police have not issued a formal advisory for the wider public. However, neighbours and relatives are urged to report unusual smells, unattended properties or sudden changes in routines among elderly residents to the local police station promptly to enable timely checks.
The investigation remains active. Further details, including post‑mortem results and any arrests, will be provided by police as they emerge.
Meera Rathore
Udaipur correspondent
