Mysterious Deaths of 11 Family Members Found Hanged in the Suburbs of New Delhi

The discovery of the bodies of 11 family members in northern New Delhi, the capital of India, has made headlines in the country. Delhi police reported on Sunday, July 1st, that the bodies were found in a rural house, with 10 of them blindfolded and hanged. According to the Associated Press, all victims were family members, most of whom lived in the same house in the Burari area. The Delhi police, which stated on Sunday that they were considering both 'suicide or murder' in their investigation, provided further details on Monday. The police mentioned that handwritten documents referencing Buddhist mystical rituals were discovered during the search of the house. A police official stated that based on these writings, a believer could solve their life problems and gain God's satisfaction by performing certain actions. According to the reports, individuals were required to go on a stool, wear blindfolds, cover their mouths with cloth, and jump down at the first moment of hanging, rushing to help each other. The police believe that the execution of this strange ritual likely led to the deaths of these 10 individuals. The victims included a 77-year-old woman, her daughter, two sons, two daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren. The report stated that the 10 hanged bodies, with their eyes covered with pieces of cloth, were found in the house's courtyard, while the body of the 77-year-old woman was found in another part of the house, lying on the ground. According to the police, no bullet marks were found on the deceased, and there were no signs that anyone had 'forcibly entered the house.' The police have recorded at least one case as 'murder' but are considering both suicide and murder in their investigation. The Delhi police stated that they began their investigation after receiving a phone report on Sunday morning about the 'suicide of several family members.' According to the Hindustan Times, the owner of the house is a local trader, and this family had lived in the house for over two decades. However, a relative of the family who saw the bodies told the Associated Press that 'it is unlikely they committed suicide.' The news of the discovery of these bodies has sparked widespread reactions from Indian users on social media. In a video published by the ruling party in India on Twitter, neighbors say this family was preparing for a wedding. A police official told reporters that the incident would be investigated from all angles, and 'we do not rule out any scenario.'