Two youths were found dead near Dumari village in Patna rural on Monday.

Police said the victims, aged around 25 years, had been identified as Surendra Paswan and Mintu Mian. They had gone missing on December 31. A case was lodged with Bikram police station on the basis of a statement by their relatives.

An officer posted at Dulhin Bazar police station said a resident spotted some parts of the bodies of the youths on the banks of Punpun river. Their faces were covered with a thick layer of sand, he added.

Paswan and Mian are residents of Rahi village under the jurisdiction of Bikram police station. No external injury was found on the bodies of the youths.

The police said Paswan had criminal antecedents. He was earlier arrested and sent to jail in connection with a murder case. “The antecedents of the second victim are being verified,” the officer added.

The victims’ relatives told the police that the duo had left their houses to seek jobs.

“What happened with the victims and how they reached Punpun is not known to the families,” Ankit Paswan, a relative of one of the deceased, said.

He added that both the victims were co-villagers and knew each other.

Patna superintendent of police (rural) B.N. Jha said the reason behind the killings of the youths could not be ascertained yet. “The bodies have been handed over to the relatives after post-mortem. Investigations are on,” he added.

Store robbery

Criminals broke into a jewellery store near Hathuwa Market in Patna late on Sunday night and fled with Rs 25,000 and ornaments worth Rs 10 lakh.

The store comes under the jurisdiction of Kadamkuan police station.

Sources said the thieves entered the store breaking open its lock. The owner of the jewellery store, Sudip Saha, has lodged an FIR.