Guwahati, May 22: In a poignant incident, five sisters committed suicide by hanging themselves from ceiling fans at their Assam Government Construction Corporation Colony residence at Rangclirdap area, about 2 km away from Diphu town in Karbi Anglong district of Assam, late last night.

The deceased were daughters of a retired executive engineer of public health engineering department, Umesh Chandra Bordoloi. They have been identified as Anuradha Bordoloi (31), Jaya Bordoloi (29), Nilakshi Bordoloi (26), Nabanita Bordoloi (23) and Priyambada Bordoloi (18).

The eldest, Anuradha, had got married on May 10 to a schoolteacher. She had returned home four days later, on May 14. The other sisters were unmarried. Jaya was working as an extension officer at Ulukunsi block under Hamren subdivision while Nilakshi and Nabanita were science and arts graduates respectively.

Priyambada, the youngest of them all, had passed her higher secondary examination this year.

Police recovered the bodies of three sisters from three different rooms this morning. The bodies of the other two were hanging in an adjacent room. The incident has created a sensation in the district. Karbi Anglong superintendent of police Pankaj Sharma said the motive behind the mass suicide was yet to be known. The police have recovered a suicide note saying no one should be blamed for the incident.

The neighbours said all the sisters were reclusive and seldom mixed with other people. The financial condition of their father was “average”.

Manipur rewards: Manipur government is considering rewards to police and security personnel who had arrested or killed insurgents in the state, PTI reports from Imphal.

Official sources said the security panel overseeing counter insurgency operations in the state made the proposal.