Tamluk, Feb. 21: Two women were found dead in a field in Nandigram this morning and police stumbled on a note hours later saying they had decided to “commit suicide” because society did not accept “their relationship”.

An empty bottle of pesticide was found beside the bodies of Sonachura residents Swapna Mondal, 23, and Sucheta Mondal, 19.

The police found a note in Swapna’s house which read: “We love each other. We decided to commit suicide as our relationship was not accepted by society. We request that we be cremated together.” The note was apparently signed by Swapna.

East Midnapore police chief Ajit Sarkar said preliminary investigation suggested that the women “had committed suicide”. He said the bodies had been sent for post-mortem to “ascertain the exact cause of death”. He said “all angles were being probed”.

Another police officer said Swapna used to teach Sucheta when the latter was in school. He said the two “had been in a relationship for the past four years”.

“Swapna and Sucheta had been cautioned by villagers on several occasions. They had also informed the duo’s parents. Sucheta’s father married his daughter off a year ago,” the officer said.

Sucheta had been living with her husband in Golpara, 1km from her parents’ home.

Yesterday, Sucheta visited her parents’ home with her husband Bikash.

“Sucheta was supposed to accompany her husband to a village fair. But she refused to go at the last moment saying she was feeling unwell,” the officer said. He said Sucheta could not be traced after 8 last night.

“This morning, the bodies of Swapna and Sucheta were found in a field in the village. Sucheta was wearing a sari while Swapna was in trousers and a T-shirt,” the officer added.

Sucheta’s father Amiya Mondal said he had married her off “to put an end to her relationship” with Swapna.

“But I never thought they would kill themselves in this manner,” Amiya said.