THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A newlywed couple was found dead in Sasthamcotta Lake near Ambalakkadavu, Kollam, on Sunday morning, with police suspecting suicide. The deceased have been identified as Rajeev, 26 and Abhirami, 19, a resident of Sasthamcotta.According to police, Abhirami’s body was first spotted near Ambalakkadavu early Sunday morning. Following the discovery, a search operation was launched by the Sasthamcotta fire and rescue personnel. Rajeev’s body was subsequently recovered from the lake, around 50 metres from where Abhirami’s body had been found.Police suspect that the couple entered the lake in the early hours of Sunday. However, the exact circumstances that led to their deaths are yet to be established.Rajeev and Abhirami had been in a relationship before getting married around four months ago. Their marriage was reportedly solemnised despite strong opposition from both families. Following the marriage, the couple had been staying in a rented house.According to relatives and police, the couple had maintained little or no contact with their respective families after the marriage.Rajeev was working as a cleaning staff member at Ambalamkunnu school. Police said the couple had been summoned to the Puyappally police station last month for counselling. The reason for the couple’s decision to end their lives, however, remains unclear.The bodies were kept at the Sasthamcotta taluk hospital mortuary and were later handed over to relatives.Sasthamcotta Police have registered a case and launched an investigation to ascertain the circumstances leading to the deaths. Police will also gather information from relatives and other persons who had been in contact with the couple in recent days.
