Residents of a southwest Delhi apartment building are grappling with shock and disbelief following the tragic discovery of the decomposed bodies of 46-year-old Heeralal Sharma and his four daughters. The neighbourhood, which comprises approximately 300 homes and around 2,000 tenants - mostly busy professionals - has been left in turmoil, states a Times of India report.
Karambir, a 66-year-old resident cited in the report, remarked, "Most tenants leave early for work and return late, which limits their awareness of what’s happening around them."
As per the police, the bodies were found in the family's rented home in Vasant Kunj on Friday afternoon. Investigating officers found no visible injury marks on the bodies, but discovered three packets of celphos poison, five glasses, and a spoon containing a suspicious liquid in the apartment. While the police confirmed that Heeralal's two youngest daughters were differently-abled, neighbours stated that all four daughters had disabilities.
This claim is, however, currently under verification, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Rohit Meena.
Residents indicated that the daughters rarely left their room, with the last sighting of the family recorded on September 24, it has been learnt from the ToI report. The discovery was made after neighbours complained about a foul odour from the apartment, located on the first floor of a residential complex in Rangpuri village.
Ratan, another resident cited in the ToI report, expressed his shock, stating, "The family was very private; Heeralal didn’t engage with anyone." He had seen Heeralal taking his daughters out in an autorickshaw around 10 p.m. recently and noted that he occasionally checked the water tank on the terrace.
DCP Meena stated that the building's owner, Nitin Chauhan, was informed by the caretaker about the unpleasant smell. When Chauhan knocked on the door without getting a response, police, aided by a fire brigade team, forced entry. They found Heeralal deceased in one room and his four daughters in another.
The deceased have been identified as Heeralal Sharma, who had worked as a carpenter at the Indian Spinal Injury Centre in Vasant Kunj for 28 years, along with his daughters: Neetu (26), Nikki (24), Neeru (23), and Nidhi (20). Inquiries revealed that Heeralal's wife had passed away from cancer about a year ago. Despite earning around Rs 25,000 a month, he had not reported for work since January 2024.
Heeralal's brother, Mohan Sharma, and sister-in-law, Gudiya Sharma, visited the apartment after learning of the tragedy. They noted that Heeralal had become increasingly withdrawn from family matters following his wife's death, focusing primarily on caring for his daughters.
Outside the family's apartment, neighbours found lemons and a red religious thread, further deepening the mystery surrounding the family's tragic deaths, mentions the ToI report. Many residents, as per the report, have admitted feeling too scared to leave their homes, deterred not only by the foul smell but also by the perplexing circumstances surrounding the family's demise.
An inquest under Section 194 of the BNSS has been initiated, and a medical board has been established to conduct post-mortem examinations, confirmed the police.
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