Ten members of family found blindfolded and hanged in their home

Police in India’s capital yesterday said that they had found 11 bodies in a home under mysterious circumstances yesterday, including ten hanging and blindfolded.

The victims were all from the same family and most had lived in the home where they were found in Burari village, to the north of New Delhi.

Police received a call yesterday morning that some “members of a family have committed suicide”.

But officer Vineet Kumar said that no suicide note was found, and that police were investigating whether the victims – four men, three women and four girls – took their own lives or were killed.

There were no bullet marks on the victims’ bodies and there was no sign of forced entry into the house, Mr Kumar said. “We’re yet to reach any conclusion,” he said.

Police said ten bodies, blindfolded by cotton and pieces of cloth, were found hanging from an iron grill in the courtyard of the family’s home, while the body of a 70-year-old woman was lying on the floor of the house.

Thehindustantimes newspaper reported the family had lived in the house for more than two decades. It said the house belongs to a businessman who ran a plywood shop and dairy.

The newspaper said that at around eight o’clock yesterday morning, a neighbour found the door of the house open and the ten people, including the businessman, hanging. He raised an alarm and people called the police.

Arjun Thukral, a relative of the family who lives in the same neighbourhood, said he ran to the victims’ house as news of the deaths spread.

“I saw the bodies hanging, stools lying around, and my wife’s aunt sprawled on the floor by the bed. I couldn’t bear watching anymore,” he said.

Asked whether the family had died by suicide, he replied: “No father can kill his own son. … How would a mother be able to kill her own children? I don’t think they committed suicide. These are murders.”

New Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who visited the scene, called the incident “tragic”.

In a video posted on Twitter by Mr Kejriwal’s ruling party, the neighbours are heard telling him that the family was busy with wedding preparations.

One neighbour said he spoke to one of the victims on Saturday night and saw no sign of any stress, the report said.

Indian TV broadcast interviews with neighbours saying the family had no disputes.

Police officials told reporters that all angles were being investigated.