Delhi mass suicide: Diary indicates their bid to ‘meet god’, ‘mystical practices’

In a suspected case of mass suicide, the bodies of 11 members of a family were found — 10 of them hanging from the roof — in mysterious circumstances in their north Delhi home on Sunday morning.

They included seven women, two men, and two boys. The Bhatia family had been living in the area for the last two decades, running grocery and plywood businesses from the two-storeyed house.

A diary found from the house at Sant Nagar in Burari indicated they believed they could meet God if all of them ended their lives in a similar manner.

Autopsy will be done on Monday.

"Certain hand-written notes have been found which point towards observance of some definite spiritual/mystical practices by the family. These notes have strong similarity with the manner in which they killed themselves," said police official Vinit Kumar.

Eight mobile phones were found in the drawer of their pooja room with tapes on them. So was jewellery and some cash. Gold jewellery on the bodies of the women were found intact.

A family member who lives elsewhere, however, alleged it was a case of murder.

Most bodies were found blindfolded — their mouth taped shut and hands and legs tied.

The first such incident in the city attracted large crowds of shocked and curious people, and had the police scrambling to probe all possible angles — including suicide and murder. Investigators are questioning neighbours and looking for CCTV footage for leads. A case of murder has been registered.

The dead were identified as Narayan Devi (77 ), her two sons Bhavnesh (50) and Lalit (45), her daughters-in-law Savita (48) and Teena (42 ), daughter Pratibha (57 ), grandchildren Priyanka (33), Nitu (25), Monu (23), Dhruv (15) and Shivam (15).

Ten bodies were found hanging, facing each other, with their hands and legs tied in a room on the first floor. Most of them were blindfolded with their mouth taped shut.

Devi was found on the floor in another room, with a belt under her body. The police suspects it broke and she fell down.

While Lalit ran a plywood business, Bhavnesh had a grocery store.

A neighbour made the grisly discovery after checking on the family as they failed to open their shop.

Locals and neighbours said the family was religious and would pray thrice a day. "They were busy with wedding preparations. Both brothers were friendly. They couldn't have committed suicide. I spoke to Bhavnesh last night. He was very happy and there was no sign of any stress," said a neighbour.

Other neighbours said the family did not have any discord among themselves. There were no bullet marks on the bodies, and there was no sign of forced entry into the house.

The family had started writing the diary in December, and the last entry was made on June 26. The date to "meet" God was decided as June 30. However they hanged themselves on Saturday night.

Devi's daughter Sujata who is married and lives in Haryana's Panipat said it was a case of pre-planned murder. Her son Ketan Nagpal said he had not seen the diary. Post-mortem will be conducted by a board at Maulana Azad Medical College on Monday.

A call was made to the police by Devi's neighbour Gurcharan Singh who had reached the grocery store to purchase milk. The shop which would generally open by 6am was shut, prompting Singh to knock the door which was ajar.

He went in and discovered the bodies after which the police was informed around 7: 30am.

The family's dog 'jackie' was found alive on the terrace.

Investigators said that the main and the only entrance to the house was open. Forensics teams visited the house. The case has been transferred to the Crime Branch.

THE HORROR

The ten bodies were found hanging, facing each other, with their hands and legs tied in a room on the first floor. Most of them were blindfolded with their mouth taped shut.

ALL EYES ON AUTOPSY

PACT? 7 WOMEN, 2 BOYS AMONG DEAD

The dead included 7 women, 2 men, & 2 boys. 10 found hanging, one lay on floor. Most bodies found blindfolded — their mouths taped shut, hands and legs tied.

NEIGHBOUR MAKES GRISLY DISCOVERY

A neighbour saw the bodies after checking on the family as they failed to open their shop. The Bhatias ran grocery and plywood businesses from the two-storyed house at Sant Nagar in Burari.

NOTES: SPIRITUAL, MYSTICAL PRACTICES

A diary found from the house indicated they believed they could meet God if all of them ended their lives in a similar manner. The family started writing the diary in December, and the last entry was made on June 26. The date to “meet” God was however decided as June 30.

MURDER CHARGE

Devi’s daughter who lives in Panipat, however, alleged it was a case of murder. A case of murder has been registered. Autopsy will be done on Monday.