Burari Deaths: Relatives Dismiss ‘Occult Angle’, Suspect Foul Play

The deceased included seven women and four men, including two minors. The case has been transferred to Crime Branch.

A policeman stands in the balcony of the house, where 11 members of a family were found dead in Burari area of Delhi on 1 July.

(Photo: PTI)

Video Producer: Debayan Dutta
Video Editor: Purnendu Preetam

Seven women and four men from a family were found dead in a house on Sunday, 1 July, in north Delhi’s Burari area.

According to the police, ten bodies were found hanging on the first floor from a railing with their faces covered, while the body of an old lady was found lying in an adjacent room. The deceased included seven women and four men, including two minors.

A murder case has been registered at Burari police station and the investigation has been transferred to the Crime Branch.

The police also found handwritten notes which indicated a “religious or spiritual angle” to the deaths.

A police officer said a probe will be conducted to find "if the family indulged in occult practices" or they followed "any godman.” However, relatives of the deceased have dismissed a religious or occult angle to the deaths and suspected foul play, PTI reported.

The family ran a grocery store in Burari which was in the same building as the house they were found dead in. According to the police, the bodies were discovered by a milkman, who had come to deliver milk at their grocery store and had gone up to their house with one of the neighbours.

The deceased have been identified as 77-year-old Narayan Devi, 50-year-old Bhavnesh, 45-year-old Lalit, 48-year-old Savita, 42-year-old Teena, 57-year-old Pratibha, 33-year-old Priyanka, 25-year-old Nitu, 23-year-old Monu. Apart from them, two minors were also found dead in the house.

‘Handwritten Notes Point Towards Observance of Spiritual/Mystical Practices’

In its statement, the Delhi police said that the house was not found to have been ransacked, and no precious items were found to have been stolen.

During search of the house, certain hand written notes have been found which point towards observance of some definite spiritual/mystical practices by the whole family. Coincidentally, these notes have strong similarity with the manner in which the mouths, eyes, etc of the deceased were tied and taped. The same is being investigated further to establish its links with the deaths.

Delhi police statement

Earlier, the police sources told The Quint that preliminary investigation showed that there was no forcible entry inside the house and the crime scene was not disturbed. The cash at the family’s home was also untouched.

Signs of strangulation have been identified on one of the deceased, a source told The Quint.

The post-mortem report as well as the findings of the forensic team are expected to give clarity on whether it was suicide or murder. The police is also investigating the call details of the deceased.

A forensic expert inspects the house, where 11 members of a family were found dead in Burari area of Delhi on 1 July.  

Relatives mourn the death of 11 members of a family in Burari area of Delhi on 1 July. 

Relatives Dismiss Religious Angle, Suspect Foul Play

The relatives claimed that there was no "religious angle" linked to the deaths, PTI reported. A relative of the deceased family members suspected foul play in the incident, saying that "they were educated people and not superstitious".

Ketan Nagpal, whose maternal grandmother was one of the deceased, alleged that they were killed and dismissed the police theory that it could be a case of "suicide pact", the PTI report added.

He said it was a prosperous family. The family had reportedly got their home renovated just a few days ago.

"They were not facing any financial issues and had not taken even a single loan. Everything was fine. Why would they kill themselves?" PTI reported quoting him.

Nagpal contended that even if they had to commit suicide, they would not have covered their faces and taped their mouth.

Another relative said they had spoken to the family last night. They sounded “normal” and did not show any signs of depression, PTI reported him as saying.

"The family did not have enmity with anyone. But we suspect someone killed them," he alleged.

Delhi CM Kejriwal Visits the Crime Spot

Prior to this mishap, on 18 June, three people were killed and five were injured when members of rival gangs fired at each other in the main Burari market. Police said the two gangs are headed by men whose enmity goes back to 2013.

Though the police are yet to establish any connection between the seemingly unrelated incidents, the investigation will consider all possible aspects, a senior police officer who is handling the gang-war case had earlier told Reuters.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has visited the crime spot, where he said, “I spoke to the neighbours. They said it was a very loving and social family…. We have to wait for the police to complete their investigation.”

(With inputs from PTI)