Burari Deaths: 11 bodies, 11 water pipes, 11 irons rods and morbid fascination

A day after the mysterious death of 11 family members inside their house in Delhi’s Burari, police investigation revealed “morbid fascination” of the family. After recovering the handwritten notes which had strong similarities with the way the family died, 11 pipes protruding out of a wall on the back side of the house have left police and neighbours aghast.

The 11 pipes coming out of the wall opened in an empty plot and were not connected to water outlet. While some said the 11 pipes were meant to allow the souls of 11 family members to escape, the carpenter, who worked in the family’s plywood shop, said they were left for the ventilation.

The carpenter said that the pipes were put up in the last three months as the house was undergoing renovation ahead of the marriage of one of the daughter, found hanging.

Apart from the 11 pipes, 11 iron rods on the entrance gate of the house were also spotted. Not just that, the number 11 was also mentioned in the diaries recovered from the house. It was written that the ‘havan’ for salvation should be performed by a group of 11 people.

While the number 11 triggered rumours among the locals, the police was trying to solve the mystery by connecting all the dots. It was also reported that one of the family member Lalit Bhatia, who was said to be the “brainchild” behind the deaths, had been hallucinating about his father, who died 10 years ago.

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Lalit thought his father’s soul had possessed him and was giving him directions to live a better life. He was writing the “instruction from his father” in a diary since 2015, which was recovered by the police.

"I will come tomorrow or day after. If I don't then I will come later. Don't worry about Lalit, when I come he becomes tense," one of the notes found in the diary read.

Eleven members of the Bhatia family - Narayan Devi, her son Lalit and Bhavnesh their families and children including two 15-year-old boys; Narayan Devi's daughter and granddaughter Priyanka, were found dead inside their house on Sunday.

While Narayani Devi was found lying in the house, 10 others were found hanging with their eyes and mouth wrapped and hands tied behind their back. Police claimed that the deaths were planned and the family thought they would not die and would be saved by the god.

The relatives of the family, however, denied “occult” angle and said that the deceased didn’t believe in any “tantriks” as they were well educated. They claimed that the family was murdered and demanded CBI probe into the death.

Meanwhile, post-mortem reports revealed that at least eight of the 11 family members died due to hanging without any struggle.

Read More | Burari Deaths: Relatives dismiss 'occult' angle, demand CBI probe