Residents and policemen outside the house of Renu Devi in the Goriamath area on Monday. Picture by Ashok Sinha

The body of a 22-year-old woman was found hanging from a ceiling fan at her Goriamath house on Monday. Police suspect it to be a murder.

The police said the victim has been identified as Renu Devi. Her husband, Arun Kumar, and his brother, Santosh Kumar, have been detained for interrogation.

Around 9.30am, Renu was found hanging from the ceiling fan of her residence under the jurisdiction of Gardanibagh police station. The police suspected foul play as the body bore multiple external injuries.

“Initially, it appeared to be a case of suicide but after preliminary investigations, we suspect it to be a murder case,” said Balram Prasad, the station house officer of Gardanibagh police station.

Arun owns a shop selling compact discs and other electronic gadgets in the Gardanibagh area. He and Renu got married four years ago and have a two-year-old son. “Their relationship has been strained for the past few months,” said another investigating officer.

Neighbours told the police that they had heard the couple quarrel last night.

“The couple used to quarrel regularly. The husband often assaulted the wife, who cried for help even at night. Since it was a family dispute, we thought it better not to intervene,” said a neighbour, who did not want to be named.

A police officer said the police suspect Renu was murdered and her body was hanged thereafter to show that she had committed suicide.

The victim’s father, Raj Dev Prasad, a resident of Sherpur Brahmachari village under the jurisdiction of Maner police station in Patna rural, rushed to the spot after getting the news of her death.

Prasad said Arun and his relatives used to harass Renu and constantly demanded dowry. “She would complain to us about the demand for dowry by her in-laws but we ignored it thinking that the issue would be resolved.”

He lodged a complaint with the Gardanibagh police station against Arun, his brother, Santosh, and mother Chinta Devi under Section 304(B) of the Dowry Prohibition Act. “Two of the three accused have already been taken into custody,” an officer at the Gardanibagh police station said. Chinta is absconding.

“The accused are being interrogated,” said senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaj.

The body has been sent to Patna Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem.