Deaths of 11 in Delhi ruled ‘mass suicide’

Investigators are convinced the mysterious death by hanging of 11 members of a family in Delhi’s Burari neighbourhood was a case of mass suicide, in a ritual practice by the relatives suffering from a shared psychological disorder, police said yesterday.

A police official said the final closure report will be prepared after getting the viscera and detailed autopsy of the 11 bodies. But little else is expected to emerge out of these reports.

“The Crime Branch has sent its case report to Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik who is all set to close the case and submit the final closure to the Home Ministry,” the officer said.

This comes five days after 11 bodies — seven females and four males — were recovered from a two-storey house on July 1. Ten of them were hanging with their hands tied, mouths gagged and eyes covered with cloth pieces.

Business family

The eldest in the Bhatia family — which was mainly into the grocery and plywood businesses — was found lying dead. An autopsy report concluded that Narayani Devi, 77, had also died of partial hanging.

Crime Branch chief Alok Kumar told journalists that CCTV footage from the premises opposite the Bhatia house helped investigators to concluded that it was a case of mass suicide.

“The video footage showed the family bought goods five stools and bandage from shops close to their home and used them in the ritual These goods were found from the spot where all 11 bodies hung,” Kumar said.