LUCKNOW, April 16 -- Two deaths initially blamed on a road accident in Uttar Pradesh's Balrampur district have been traced to a premeditated double murder allegedly orchestrated over a past relationship and suspected blackmail, police said on Wednesday.

Two men, Deepchand alias Chhotu and his friend Manoj, were allegedly strangled to death before their bodies were dumped near a roadside drain along with a motorcycle to stage a fatal crash in the Maharajganj Tarai police station area on Monday, officials said, adding four accused, including a woman, her husband and two relatives, were arrested within 24 hours of the incident on Tuesday.

Addressing media persons, Balrampur superintendent of police Vikas Kumar said the case was initially r...