BSP Leader’s Daughter, Man Found Shot Dead in Ayodhya Hotel Room, Probe Underway

Tension and grief gripped Barabanki district after the bodies of a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader’s daughter and a young man were discovered shot dead inside a hotel room in Ayodhya.

The incident occurred at Gauri Shankar Palace Homestay, located along the Ayodhya–Lucknow highway in the Raanopali police outpost area. The property is reportedly owned by Hemant Jaiswal, the local BJP mandal president of Devkali.

According to a local media report, quoting police sources, Ayush Kumar Gupta, a resident of  Deoria, checked into the hotel around 10:10 a.m. on Sunday, accompanied by a young woman. They were allotted Room No. 103 on the second floor. Witnesses said Gupta was last seen outside the room around 12:30 p.m., after which the door remained shut, the report added. 

When a hotel staff member brought tea at around 5 p.m. and received no response despite repeated knocks, the manager was alerted and police were informed.

A police team led by Ayodhya Circle Officer Ashutosh Tiwari arrived at the scene and, after establishing contact with the man's family, broke open the door under video surveillance and in the presence of witnesses.

Inside, the scene was grim. Gupta’s body lay on the bed with a pistol found beneath his knee and two live cartridges nearby. The woman’s body was found against the western wall of the room. Both had gunshot wounds to the forehead, fired at point-blank range. Blood was splattered across the bed and floor, and authorities believe Gupta shot the woman before turning the weapon on himself.

City Superintendent of Police Chakrapani Tripathi arrived at the scene with a forensic team, collecting evidence and samples from the room.

Victim Identified 

Based on the man’s ID, police contacted his relatives, who confirmed his identity. The deceased woman was identified as Aroma Rawat, daughter of BSP Barabanki district president KK Rawat. She was reportedly pursuing a nursing course in Ayodhya and had left home for the city on July 2.

A massive crowd gathered in her ancestral village, Ghazipur in Sirouli Gauspur (Barabanki), as her body was brought back. Grief gripped the entire community, with several BSP leaders, including state president Vishwanath Pal, attending the funeral to pay their respects.

Police Probe Underway 

Initial investigations suggest that the man and woman belonged to different castes and districts and had no known prior relationship. Police suspect that they may have met through social media. Investigators believe social and familial pressure might have contributed to their decision to end their lives.

SP City Chakrapani Tripathi ruled out third-party involvement, citing that the room was locked from the inside. “The door was bolted, leaving no scope for a third person’s involvement. Both families have been informed. Post-mortem will be conducted under videography and medical supervision. Other aspects are being investigated,” he said.

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