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In popular culture

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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
The '''Burari deaths''' refers to the deaths of eleven family members of the Chundawat<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/11-bright-people-with-one-dark-secret/article24428709.ece|title=Burari deaths: 11 bright people with one dark secret|first=Hemani|last=Bhandari|date=16 July 2018|publisher=|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> family from [[Burari]], Delhi, India, in 2018. Ten family members were found [[death by hanging|hanged]], while the oldest family member, the grandmother, was [[strangulation|strangled]]. The bodies were found on 1 July 2018; in the early morning after the death. The police have ruled the deaths as mass suicide,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/cctv-footage-shows-what-happened-moments-before-11-burari-deaths-1277850-2018-07-05|title=CCTV footage shows what happened moments before 11 burari deaths}}</ref> with an angle of [[shared psychosis]] being investigated.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/burari-deaths-family-may-have-been-suffering-from-shared-psychosis/article24328224.ece|title=Burari deaths: Family may have been suffering from ‘shared psychosis’|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/burari-deaths-cctv-footage-reveals-more-details-of-suicide-plans/article24337886.ece|title=Burari deaths: CCTV footage reveals more details of suicide plans|publisher=}}</ref>

==Background==
The Chundawat family (also known as Bhatia family by neighbours)<ref name="auto"/> had been living in the double-story house in Burari's Sant Nagar neighbourhood for around twenty years, after moving from their native town in [[Rajasthan]]. The family ran a grocery shop and plywood business in the area. The family included Narayani Devi, 77; sons Bhavnesh, 50, and Lalit, 45; daughters-in-law Savita, 48, and Teena, 42; daughter Pratibha Bhatia (née Chundawat), 57; and grandchildren Priyanka (daughter of Pratibha), 33, Nitu (elder daughter of Bhavnesh), 25, Monu (younger daughter of Bhavnesh), 23, Dhruv (youngest son of Bhavnesh), 15, and Shivam (only child of Lalit), 15.<ref name="ndtv.com"/>
Bhavnesh's elder son had left home 3 years prior and so was spared.

In 2007,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/week-long-thanksgiving-ritual-led-to-death-of-burari-family-suspect-delhi-police/story-hQuFQ6ws1N1jhY9GlHniaP.html|title=Burari hangings: Week-long ‘thanksgiving ritual’ led to deaths, Delhi police suspect|date=5 July 2018|publisher=}}</ref> Lalit Chundawat's father Bhopal Singh died of natural causes. After the death of his father, Lalit became very [[introverted]], and soon he started praying in front of trees, and offering food to animals. One day, he told his family that he was [[Spirit possession|possessed]] by his father’s soul, who advised him the ways to attain a good life. Since 2013 he had been maintaining a diary on his father’s "instructions".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/burari-deaths-brother-said-fathers-soul-possessed-him-5243250/|title=Burari deaths: Brother said father’s soul possessed him, gave him directions|date=3 July 2018|publisher=}}</ref>

==Discovery of bodies==
On the morning of 1 July, 2018 around 7:15, neighbour Gurcharan Singh, who used to go on morning walks with one of the deceased, went to the Chundawat residence after noticing Lalit Chundawat's absence for the morning walk, as well as the fact that the shops were still not opened (the shops usually opened at 6am). Gurcharan Singh found the door of the house open and the ten people, including Lalit Chundawat, hanging. He raised an alert by calling other neighbours, and police received the call around 7:30.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/delhi-11-members-of-a-family-found-dead-in-burari-investigation-on/articleshow/64812274.cms|title=Delhi: 11 members of a family found dead in Burari, investigation on|date=1 July 2018|publisher=|via=The Economic Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/delhi-burari-deaths-what-we-know-so-far/articleshow/64822236.cms|title=Delhi mystery deaths: What we know and what we don't - Times of India ►|publisher=}}</ref>

==Suicides==
Ten of the eleven people - two men, six women and two teens - were found hanging in the courtyard of the house. They were [[blindfolded]] and their mouths were taped. Some of the bodies had their hands and feet tied as well. Another woman, 77-year-old Narayani Devi was found dead in another room. It appeared that she had been strangled.<ref name="ndtv.com1">{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/burari-deaths-handwritten-notes-reveal-ghastly-details-occult-link-in-delhi-deaths-1876206|title=11 Dead In A Delhi Family, Handwritten Notes Offer Big Clue|publisher=}}</ref>

The members were found hanging from a mesh in their ceiling in the hallway, all close together. Their faces were wrapped almost entirely, ears plugged with cotton, mouths taped and hands tied behind the back. There were five stools, probably shared by the 10 members.<ref name="ndtv.com2">{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/burari-deaths-delhi-family-found-hanging-thought-they-wouldnt-die-say-cops-10-facts-1876889|title=10 People Shared 5 Stools In Delhi Family Hangings, Say Police: 10 Facts|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://in.news.yahoo.com/burari-deaths-one-family-member-042233121.html|title=Burari deaths: One family member tried stopping "ritual" while hanging|publisher=}}</ref> Their faces covered with cloth pieces cut from a single bed-sheet.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/burari-deaths-one-person-stand-guard-while-others-hang-note-at-delhi-familys-home-1876736|title=One Person Stand Guard While Others Hang: Note At Delhi Family's Home|publisher=}}</ref>

==Investigation==
Police said the circumstances surrounding the deaths point to [[mass suicide]] for [[occult]] reasons or murder for occult reasons. Police are also investigating with the possibility of murder with a motive other than occult.<ref name="ndtv.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/burari-deaths-murder-case-filed-after-11-of-family-found-dead-in-delhi-home-1876139|title=Occult Angle Suspected After Family Of 11 Found Dead In Delhi Home|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/bhatia-diaries-hint-at-ritual-to-free-spirits-from-their-house/articleshow/64876367.cms|title=Bhatia diaries hint at ritual to free 'spirits' from their house - Times of India|publisher=}}</ref> In the early stages of investigation, police registered a murder case, investigating it from every angle.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/burari-family-of-11-waited-for-god-to-save-them-instead-got-death/story-bvzsc2kc75x8sVlWbyAsWJ.html|title=Burari family of 11 waited for God to save them, instead got death|date=2 July 2018|publisher=}}</ref>

Police found eleven diaries in the house, all of them maintained for the period of eleven years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/11-deaths-11-diaries-11-years-burari-s-number-mystery-foxes-all/story-TRGD6sUyvOIS7MD5hulAiJ.html|title=11 deaths, 11 diaries, 11 years: Burari’s number mystery foxes all|date=5 July 2018|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/eleven-people-11-diaries-11-pipes-buraris-number-mystery-1878021|title=Eleven People, 11 Diaries, 11 Pipes - Burari's Number Mystery|publisher=}}</ref> Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Alok Kumar stated: "We have found handwritten notes detailing how hands and legs are to be tied and are quite similar to the manner in which the bodies of 10 persons were found. They are exhaustive notes and we are studying them."<ref name="ndtv.com1"/> Details/directions provided in the diaries match how the bodies were found with their faces covered, mouths taped, and cotton balls in ears. The diary also mentions: "everyone will tie their own hands and when the kriya (ritual) is done then everyone will help each other untie their hands." Signifying the family was not expecting to die.<ref name="ndtv.com2"/>

==Psychological view==
Psychologists have commented that these deaths are a result of ‘shared psychotic disorder’ in which members of a group blindly trust one among them and follow instructions without questioning. Psychologists feel that Lalit suffered from a ‘delusional disorder’.<ref name="HT_Psycho">{{cite news |title=Hangings, rituals, godmen: Mystery of Delhi house where 11 of family died |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/burari-diaries-what-happened-in-the-house-where-11-of-family-were-found-dead/story-kUa5qSZhyNXQotEzPApHeL.html |accessdate=9 July 2018 |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=7 July 2018}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
A three part [[true crime]] docu-series titled ''House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths'', based on the case will release in 2021. Directed by [[Leena Yadav]], the series will premiere on [[Netflix]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gadgets.ndtv.com/entertainment/news/netflix-searching-for-sheela-burari-deaths-indian-predator-crime-stories-india-detectives-documentaries-2382219|title=Netflix Unveils 4 Indian Documentaries – From Karan Johar, Leena Yadav, Vice, and India Today|last=Arora|first=Akhil|website= NDTV|date=3 March 2021|accessdate=7 March 2021}}</ref> The case was also covered in an episode of the true-crime podcast called ''Khooni: The Crimes of India''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/29-the-hangings-at-burari/id1504912635?i=1000495436970|title=29. The Hangings at Burari|website=Podcast|accessdate=7 March 2021}}</ref> The Case was also covered as a 4 part series on the Hindi True Crime Podcast called "Sunsaan". Famous crime reporter Shams Tahir Khan has also narrated the incident in his YouTube channel Crime Tak in 2019.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Mass suicides]]
[[Category:New Delhi]]
[[Category:Psychosis]]
[[Category:Suicides in India]]

Burari deaths - Revision history

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