A couple in the Indian state of Gujarat were found decapitated outside their home on Sunday after allegedly committing suicide via guillotine in what is believed to be a sacrifice to the Hindu god Shiva.
The bodies of Hemu Makwana, 38, and his 33-year-old wife Hansa, were discovered by their children.
According to the Times of India, the Makwanas had constructed a temporary temple out of plastic bags on their farm in the Vinchiya area of Rajkot. Inside, police found a picture of Shiva and a Shiva Linga, a devotional object, made out of mud. While both of these are common in Hindu temples, other things found in the Makwanas' spiritual shack raised concerns.
Police discovered a havan kund, a dish typically filled with fire and used in the offering of sacrifices and other such rituals, as well as the couple's homemade guillotine.
Inspector Indrajitsinh Jadeja stated that the Makwanas "used a make-shift guillotine to end their lives," adding that, "it is believed that they pulled up the blades of the guillotine themselves and released it in such a manner that their heads fell into a havan kund."
Next to the Makwanas' bodies, authorities located a suicide note explaining that they had killed themselves of their own volition, and that nobody else was involved. Jadeja noted that the couple had told their children to go to their uncle's house the day before, further indicating that the suicide was premeditated.
Family members were puzzled by the incident, however, noting that the couple had not been experiencing any financial hardships or domestic disputes. As the Times of India reports, however, the note revealed that Hansa was "not keeping well."
Despite the evidence suggesting the suicide was simply part of a sacrificial ritual, police have stated that they will be gathering more information from family members and pursuing all possible courses of action.
The bodies of Hemu Makwana, 38, and his 33-year-old wife Hansa, were discovered by their children.
According to the Times of India, the Makwanas had constructed a temporary temple out of plastic bags on their farm in the Vinchiya area of Rajkot. Inside, police found a picture of Shiva and a Shiva Linga, a devotional object, made out of mud. While both of these are common in Hindu temples, other things found in the Makwanas' spiritual shack raised concerns.
Police discovered a havan kund, a dish typically filled with fire and used in the offering of sacrifices and other such rituals, as well as the couple's homemade guillotine.
Inspector Indrajitsinh Jadeja stated that the Makwanas "used a make-shift guillotine to end their lives," adding that, "it is believed that they pulled up the blades of the guillotine themselves and released it in such a manner that their heads fell into a havan kund."
Next to the Makwanas' bodies, authorities located a suicide note explaining that they had killed themselves of their own volition, and that nobody else was involved. Jadeja noted that the couple had told their children to go to their uncle's house the day before, further indicating that the suicide was premeditated.
Family members were puzzled by the incident, however, noting that the couple had not been experiencing any financial hardships or domestic disputes. As the Times of India reports, however, the note revealed that Hansa was "not keeping well."
Despite the evidence suggesting the suicide was simply part of a sacrificial ritual, police have stated that they will be gathering more information from family members and pursuing all possible courses of action.
