PRAYAGRAJ, May 31 -- : Two minor siblings died under suspicious circumstances after allegedly drowning in a pond in Katiyari (Mohammadpur) village under the Tharwai police station area on Sunday morning, triggering widespread protests by family members and villagers who accused a neighbouring family of foul play.

The incident led to nearly five-and-a-half hours of tension and unrest as villagers refused to allow the bodies to be sent for post-mortem examination until a criminal case was registered against the accused.

According to police, the deceased were identified as Madhu ,11, and Sachin ,9, the youngest children of Awadhesh Kumar, a resident of Sarai Ismail in Utraon. The siblings had been living with their grandmother, Malti Devi,...