How Delhi Mass Suicide Was Planned

New Delhi: The family that was found hanging in their north Delhi house on June 30 began preparations at least 10 days before its alleged "mass suicide", police said. As per a video footage obtained from a premises opposite the family house, the family bought goods used in rituals, five tables and bandage from shops close to their Burari home.

The Crime Branch officials on Wednesday visited the house in Sant Nagar and conducted another search.

Police said Crime Branch investigators believe that one of the dead couples -- Lalit Bhatia and his wife Tina -- tied the hands and legs of other family members before all of the them hung themselves from an iron grill on a ceiling of a corridor during a ritual prayer.

"In another video clipping, Bhavnesh's wife Savita and Tina were seen purchasing five stools at 10 p.m. on June 30. After some time, their teenaged children Dhruv and Shivam were seen carrying electric wire, which was used in hanging by some of the family members.

"The line of investigation is focused on the role of Lalit and his wife," Deputy Commissioner of Police Joy N. Tirkey said.

"The Crime Branch, which is examining the CCTV footage of the last two months, has found couple involved in suspicious activities. The couple was seen carrying goods used in ritual prayers from June 23 to 30. In one of the footage of June 27, Lalit was seen carrying a polybag containing items connected to Vastu Shastra," a senior police officer connected to the probe said on the condition of anonymity.

"It was found in investigation that generally the family used to send one of their servants to purchase household goods," the officer said. (IANS)