Path to 'salvation' led to mass suicide?

New Delhi: The investigation in the case where 11 persons were found dead revealed that the family did not want to die but it was the superstitious practice which suddenly went wrong. Police claimed that they have questioned more than 60 persons in the case which did not include the family members. Police said that the two registers recovered from the temple in the house had notes talking about 'salvation', 'badh tapasya', 'shunya'.

The investigator in the Crime Branch have ruled out the possibility of foul play in the case stating that they have not found anything in the stomach of the deceased. "During the investigation, it was found that Lalit (deceased) had delusion and he used to talk like his father who died several years ago and the family members used to write on the registers whatever he used to speak during delusion period," said the investigators.

The investigator further claimed that during the practice they had a thought that they will be saved by Lalit but the theory went wrong leading to their death. Police claimed that they have questioned more than 60 persons whom the family members contacted last time. The police are also scanning the footage of the recently held engagement video to check if there was any suspicious person present during the function.

The earliest entry in the registers was as early as August 2015 and the last entry was made on June 30, the day when they allegedly did the ritual. "The earliest entries are more about philosophical musing and religious beliefs. Every entry in the register would begin with 'shree'. There have been months on end when no entries have been made," he said. They have written in detail how by following the rituals, one would not actually die "but would be saved by God and attain something great."

The notes also mentioned about "being cautious" while performing the ritual. Police suspect that the family had ordered food from outside since the notes mentioned about not preparing food on the day of the ritual and are finding out from where they had ordered the food.

Kin, neighbours refuse to buy police theory

Monday might have been the day when Dhruv and Shivam now deceased had gone to school wearing new shoes but now their memories remained with the residents living in North Delhi's Sant Nagar. A day after the 11 deaths, the street number two remained in grief after losing their humble neighbours.

A tent was erected on Monday where the deceased's relative Sujata was sitting with other residents who are showing their condolence about the horrific incident. The relatives clearly stated that they did not believe in superstitions theory and want the case to be probed in fair manner.

The area also witnessed the presence of fringe group demanding CBI probe in the case. 70-year-old Shanti Devi who lives nearby the house where the incident took place was sitting on the stairs. "I can't believe they are not with me I have seen them growing up they were humble," said Devi. The family had grocery shop and in many instances, they never asked or forced customers for money.

Gurucharan Singh, the first eyewitness in the case was going to Gurudwara. While talking to other residents, he said how can anyone sleep after such an incident. The humbleness of the family could be seen by the fact that on Monday the food was served by the neighbours to the people who visited the spot. "We can only say, we lost a good neighbour always helpful," said Dushyant, a resident of Sant Nagar. Many of the residents did not believe the occult angle in the case. First decisions the relatives took was to donate the eyes of the 11 to an eye bank so as to help others see. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police is continuing its investigation into the mysterious deaths and are probing it from all angles.