Burari Deaths: 'Someone Killed Them, All Reports on Spiritual Angle Are Bogus', Claims Relative

New Delhi, July 2: A relative of the deceased Bhatia family claims all eleven of them were "murdered" and reports indicating an occult angle are baseless. Her remarks came in the backdrop of the crime branch's preliminary investigation which has linked the deaths to "dark mystical practices".

Sujata, who claims to have closely known the family, contradicted the findings of the preliminary probe. She said the family was averse to tantriks and superstition.

"Someone killed them and all the reports on spiritual angle are bogus. This family was a happy and peace loving one who never believed in 'babas'," she told news agency ANI.

The 11-member family was found dead at their home in Burari on Sunday morning. The deceased have been identified as Narayani Devi (77), her two sons Bhavnesh (50) and Lalit (45), her daughters-in-law Savita (48) and Teena (42), her daughter Pratibha (57), her grandchildren Priyanka (33), Nitu (25), Monu (23), Dhruv (15) and Shivam (15).

While Narayani was found strangled to death, the bodies of 10 other family members were found hanging in the adjacent room.

The autopsy report of 6 among the 11 deceased said the death was caused due to "ligature hanging", with no signs of resistance being found.

JCP (Crime) Alok Kumar said the case prima facie appears to be one of mass suicide. The police is investigating whether the family was in touch with a cult guru.

Handwritten letters recovered from the house gave impetus to the occult angle as the note in those letters described the condition of the deceased, particularly the manner in which they were blindfolded and gagged using tapes.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 02, 2018 03:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).