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Burari deaths: Medical board confirms suicide; relatives dismiss theory, allege murder

WION Web Team
Delhi, IndiaUpdated: Jul 03, 2018, 01:04 PM IST
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Bodies of 7 women and 4 men have been found at a house in Delhi's Burari. Photograph:(ANI)

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Meanwhile, the relative of the deceased rule out the possibility of mass suicide, they allege murder

The medical board on Monday confirmed all 11 deaths in the family of a Burari household were caused by hanging, asphyxiation also described as ante-mortem hanging. The board concluded the same after the autopsies were conducted on the dead bodies.

Meanwhile, the relatives of the deceased rule out the possibility of mass suicide, they allege murder. The relatives said the Bhatia family was gearing up for the wedding of Priyanka, one of the family members who was found dead.

Sujata Nagpal, the daughter of the 77-year-old Narayan Devi found dead on the floor, said the media was speculating things and circulating suicide theories. Nagpal, along with her family, stays away and noted that the family was happy and prosperous. 

"I used to speak to my mother every alternate day. Everything was going fine within our family. We are a well-educated family and do not believe in babas. It is not a case of suicide. The media has been speculating things and publishing wrong information that my family members committed suicide," she said.

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Devi's niece Geeta Thakral suspected that someone from outside the family was involved in the deaths.

"They were religious like any other normal family. After hearing about various cases involving babas and tantriks, our family hardly believed in them".

Thakral noted that the family was not in any crisis. The business was also going fine. "There was no fight within the family. They were busy with wedding preparations. They were all happy. So why would they commit suicide at all," Thakral asked.

Another relative, Manoj Bhatia said, "I am in a complete state of shock. They weren't staunch in their religious beliefs. We still cannot understand the reason (of the deaths) but this is definitely not a case of suicide."

The mystery behind the death of 11 members of the Bhatia family living in Delhi's Burari area continues to deepen. The police are investigating the handwritten notes recovered from the house which indicate an "occult or spiritual motive" to the deaths.

The handwritten notes stated, "the human body is temporary and one can overcome fear by covering their eyes and mouth".

The 11 deceased include Narayan Devi, who was found dead on the floor, her daughter Pratibha (57), her two sons Bhavnesh (50) and Lalit Bhatia (45). Bhavnesh's wife Savita (48) and their three children - Meenu (23) Nidhi (25), and Dhruv, aged 15.

Lalit Bhatia's wife Tina (42) and their 15-year-old son Shivam were also among those found dead. Pratibha's daughter Priyanka (33), who was engaged last month and would have married by the end of this year, was found hanging. 

(With inputs from PTI