The partially decomposed bodies of a man and a woman were recovered from a locked house on Tuesday from a village under Tarhassi police station, 43km from here.

Police said the middle-aged man, Suresh Paswan, 52, and his domestic help Paro Devi, 48, were sleeping together on a bed under a mosquito net when they were killed with a sharp object and their faces smashed.

Prima facie, the murders took place either two or three days ago, judging by the decomposition, said SDPO Anup Baraik. Suresh’s brother Narendra, who had not heard from his brother for the past two days or two, reached the house to discover the stench and subsequently the bodies.

Suresh’s wife works as a government teacher at a school in Latehar where she stays with their two children.

SDPO Baraik said the police had made no arrest but were focussing on Paro’s husband Mohan Paswan who is said to be mentally unstable.