Burari Mass Suicide Mystery: Psychological autopsy being considered

Police have more or less ruled out the involvement of any self-styled godman in the case and are probing it as a case of “shared psychosis”. With respect to the Delhi Burari mass deaths, mental health experts claim that the victims in such mass suicide cases generally “show commonalities”. The psychologists suggested that a “psychological autopsy” should be conducted to unravel the mystery surrounding the death of 11 members of the Bhatia family.

Police sources added that their initial probe revealed that three of the family members had first decided to commit suicide. Police added that they then decided to kill the entire family. “They mixed sedatives with dinner the previous night and served it to the family,” police added, reported CNN News18.

A report, which has been submitted by the Sub-divisional magistrate BK Jha to the crime branch indicated that the family was indulged in ‘occult practice’, reported Mirror Now. The SDM has reportedly reached this conclusion based on the practices listed out in a register that was accessed by the police.

According to Times of India, the cops are now considering a ‘psychological autopsy’ on the suggestion of doctors from VIMHANS. PTI reported that a senior officer spoke to doctors from VIMHANS on Tuesday who also opined that it was a case of “shared psychosis”.

“Shared psychosis means that delusional beliefs are transmitted from one person to another. In this case, it is suspected that Lalit Bhatia, 45, was the one who had the delusion of talking to his father even after his death. And his beliefs were endorsed by other family members too,” said a police officer.

A psychological autopsy involves research and interviews with kin of the deceased to understand and analyse the suicide. As per a PTI report, the investigating agencies suspect that the deaths were part of a suicide pact. This was established after handwritten notes found at the crime site hinted at a larger “religious or spiritual angle” likely linked to the deaths. A senior doctor from the department of psychiatry at AIIMS suggested conducting a “psychological autopsy”.

“In layman’s term, a psychological autopsy would mean interacting with the victims’ relatives, friends and acquaintances to see if there was any pattern – like if they were reading the same book or similar themed books or were part of any cult or were influenced by any occultist,” he told PTI on the condition of anonymity.

The deceased, seven women and four men, have been identified as Narayan Devi (77) her two sons Bhavnesh (50) and Lalit (45), her daughter-in-laws Savita (48) and Teena (42), her daughter Pratibha (57) and her grandchildren Priyanka (33), Nitu (25), Monu (23), and two minors. Their bodies were cremated in Delhi’s Nigambodh Ghat in the afternoon of 2 July, 2018.