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{{Short description|2018 mass suicide in Delhi, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = Burari deaths
| location = Street 4<br />Sant Nagar<br />[[Burari]], [[Delhi]], India
| date = 1 July 2018
| coordinates = {{coord|28|44|29|N|77|11|53|E|display=inline,title}}
| type = [[Mass Suicide]], [[Strangulation]]
| fatalities = 11
| perps = Mostly Lalit
| numparts = 11
}}
The '''Burari deaths''' were a [[ritual suicide|ritual]] [[mass suicide]]<ref>{{Cite web |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 |website=India Today |date=5 July 2018 |access-date=18 July 2018 |archive-date=18 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718174606/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/cctv-footage-shows-what-happened-moments-before-11-burari-deaths-1277850-2018-07-05 |url-status=live}}</ref> of eleven family members<ref name="auto">{{cite news |last=Bhandari |first=Hemani |date=16 July 2018 |title=Burari deaths: 11 bright people with one dark secret |newspaper=The Hindu |publisher= |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/11-bright-people-with-one-dark-secret/article24428709.ece |via=www.thehindu.com |access-date=17 July 2018 |archive-date=17 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717042353/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/11-bright-people-with-one-dark-secret/article24428709.ece |url-status=live}}</ref> from [[Burari, Delhi|Burari]], India, in 2018. Ten people—ranging in age from 15 to 57 years old—were found [[Death by hanging|hanged]], while the oldest family member, the 80-year-old grandmother, was [[Strangulation|strangled]]. The bodies were found on 1 July 2018, in the early morning after the deaths. The police have ruled the deaths were motivated by [[Folie à deux|shared psychosis]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Burari deaths: Family may have been suffering from 'shared psychosis' |date=4 July 2018 |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/burari-deaths-family-may-have-been-suffering-from-shared-psychosis/article24328224.ece |publisher= |access-date=6 July 2018 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225034720/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/burari-deaths-family-may-have-been-suffering-from-shared-psychosis/article24328224.ece |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Burari deaths: CCTV footage reveals more details of suicide plans |date=5 July 2018 |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/burari-deaths-cctv-footage-reveals-more-details-of-suicide-plans/article24337886.ece |publisher= |access-date=6 July 2018 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225034723/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/burari-deaths-cctv-footage-reveals-more-details-of-suicide-plans/article24337886.ece |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Background==
The Bhatia family,<ref name="auto"/> had lived in the three-story house<ref name=":3" /> in Burari's Sant Nagar neighbourhood for around twenty years, after moving from their native town in [[Tohana]], [[Haryana]]. The family ran a grocery shop and a plywood business in the area. The family consisted of:<ref name="ndtv.com"/>
*Narayani Devi (80), mother of Bhuvnesh, Lalit and Pratibha
*Pratibha Bhatia (57), widowed daughter of Narayani Devi
*Bhuvnesh (50, also spelled as Bhavnesh), elder son of Narayani Devi
*Lalit (45), younger son of Narayani Devi
*Savita (48), elder daughter-in-law of Narayani Devi, wife of Bhuvnesh
*Tina (42, also spelled as Teena), younger daughter-in-law of Narayani Devi, wife of Lalit
*Priyanka (33), only daughter of Pratibha
*Nitu (25, also spelled as Neetu), elder daughter of Bhuvnesh
*Monu (called "Menaka") (23), younger daughter of Bhuvnesh
*Dhruv (called "Dushyant") (15), only son and youngest child of Bhuvnesh
*Shivam (15), son of Lalit.

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= |access-date=13 July 2018 |archive-date=12 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712060603/https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/week-long-thanksgiving-ritual-led-to-death-of-burari-family-suspect-delhi-police/story-hQuFQ6ws1N1jhY9GlHniaP.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Lalit's father Bhopal Singh died of [[natural causes]]. After the death of their father, Lalit became very introverted. 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 2007, he along with Priyanka and Nitu 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= |access-date=7 July 2018 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225034716/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/burari-deaths-brother-said-fathers-soul-possessed-him-5243250/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Discovery of bodies==
On the morning of 1 July 2018 (at around 7:15 am), the neighbour Gurcharan Singh, who used to go on morning walks with one of the deceased, went to the residence. He noticed that Lalit was absent from the morning walk and that the shops were still closed. The shops usually opened between 5 and 5:30 am. Gurcharan Singh found the door of the house open and the ten people, including Lalit, hanging. He raised an alert by calling other neighbours. Police received the call around 7:30 am.<ref>{{cite news |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= |newspaper=The Economic Times |access-date=9 July 2018 |archive-date=9 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709160655/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/delhi-11-members-of-a-family-found-dead-in-burari-investigation-on/articleshow/64812274.cms |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |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 |newspaper=Times of India |date=2 July 2018 |access-date=9 July 2018 |archive-date=3 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803072533/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/delhi-burari-deaths-what-we-know-so-far/articleshow/64822236.cms |url-status=live}}</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. The grandmother, 80-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 Mass Dead In A Delhi Family, Handwritten Notes Offer Big Clue |publisher= |access-date=9 July 2018 |archive-date=9 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709154120/https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/burari-deaths-handwritten-notes-reveal-ghastly-details-occult-link-in-delhi-deaths-1876206 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Members of the family 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= |access-date=9 July 2018 |archive-date=9 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709154606/https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/burari-deaths-delhi-family-found-hanging-thought-they-wouldnt-die-say-cops-10-facts-1876889 |url-status=live}}</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= |access-date=9 July 2018 |archive-date=9 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709155032/https://in.news.yahoo.com/burari-deaths-one-family-member-042233121.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Their faces were 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= |access-date=9 July 2018 |archive-date=9 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709153945/https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/burari-deaths-one-person-stand-guard-while-others-hang-note-at-delhi-familys-home-1876736 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Tommy, the pet dog of the family, was the only survivor in the house.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=2018-07-02 |title=India mystery over Delhi's 'house of mass hangings' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-44678679 |access-date=2024-02-29 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> He was chained on the terrace and had a high fever when the police found him after discovering the 11 bodies.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2018-07-03 |title=Burari deaths: Here's a look back at four cult-based mass suicides |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/research/burari-deaths-delhi-cult-based-mass-suicides-5243910/ |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=The Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=7 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407181129/https://indianexpress.com/article/research/burari-deaths-delhi-cult-based-mass-suicides-5243910/ |url-status=live}}</ref> It was not clear who tied him. He was later said to have been convalescing at [[Noida]]'s House of Stray Animals, where he was taken immediately after being rescued.

==Investigation==
Evidence found in the house pointed to [[mass suicide]] for [[occult]] reasons. [[Post-mortem examination]] of the bodies found no signs of struggle.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |title=Burari News {{!}} Burari Deaths Case: 11 bodies, a pet dog and a mysterious diary |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/et-explains/11-bodies-one-pet-dog-and-a-mysterious-diary-the-curious-case-of-burari-deaths-explained/articleshow/64823979.cms |access-date=2022-02-23 |archive-date=23 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223075910/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/et-explains/11-bodies-one-pet-dog-and-a-mysterious-diary-the-curious-case-of-burari-deaths-explained/articleshow/64823979.cms |url-status=live}}</ref> Due to the public nature of the case, pressure from hardline groups, and accusations of coverup from relatives, police initially recorded the case as a murder and investigated the possibility of a murder motivated by non-occult reasons.<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= |access-date=6 July 2018 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225034718/https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/burari-deaths-murder-case-filed-after-11-of-family-found-dead-in-delhi-home-1876139 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |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 |website=[[The Times of India]] |date=6 July 2018 |publisher= |access-date=6 July 2018 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225034718/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/bhatia-diaries-hint-at-ritual-to-free-spirits-from-their-house/articleshow/64876367.cms |url-status=live}}</ref><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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702155626/https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/burari-family-of-11-waited-for-god-to-save-them-instead-got-death/story-bvzsc2kc75x8sVlWbyAsWJ.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 July 2018 |title=Burari family of 11 waited for God to save them, instead got death |date=2 July 2018 |publisher=}}</ref>

Police found 11 diaries in the house, all of them were maintained for 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= |access-date=9 July 2018 |archive-date=5 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705060945/https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/11-deaths-11-diaries-11-years-burari-s-number-mystery-foxes-all/story-TRGD6sUyvOIS7MD5hulAiJ.html |url-status=live}}</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= |access-date=9 July 2018 |archive-date=9 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709185733/https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/eleven-people-11-diaries-11-pipes-buraris-number-mystery-1878021 |url-status=live}}</ref> Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Alok Kumar stated: "We have found handwritten notes detailing how hands and legs were tied and are quite similar to the manner in which the bodies of 10 persons are found. They are exhaustive notes and we are studying them."<ref name="ndtv.com1"/>

Details written in the diaries match how the bodies were found, with their faces covered, mouths taped, and cotton balls in ears. The bodies were discovered hanged in batches of three, which is what the diaries also state. The diary stated that the ''Bebe'' (elderly woman) could not stand and hence should be lying on the bed, which was consistent with the discovery of her being found strangled on the bed.<ref name=":0" /> 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", indicating that the family was not expecting to die.<ref name="ndtv.com2"/>

== Role of Lalit Bhatia==
Handwriting analysis revealed that these diaries were written by Priyanka (the daughter of Pratibha) and Nitu (the elder daughter of Bhuvnesh), but were supposedly believed by them to be dictated to Lalit by his late father's spirit.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-11 |title=Businessman said father's spirit warned Burari family about mistakes |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/burari-deaths-notes-recovered-say-family-may-not-see-next-diwali-talks-of-wandering-souls/story-U4lwDCCVptCMKx954oaWiO.html |access-date=2022-02-23 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en |archive-date=23 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223085052/https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/burari-deaths-notes-recovered-say-family-may-not-see-next-diwali-talks-of-wandering-souls/story-U4lwDCCVptCMKx954oaWiO.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Lalit is believed to have masterminded the incident.<ref name=":1" /> The crime branch believes that Lalit alone was responsible for tying the hands and legs of the family members. Lalit had told the family members that the soul of his father had entered his body in order to get the family to follow him.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-08 |title=SUNDAY FEATURE {{!}} 11 Deaths, 1 House, No Killer: All of Burari Knows the Family Didn't Want to Die |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/11-deaths-1-house-no-killer-all-of-burari-knows-the-family-didnt-want-to-die-1804745.html |access-date=2022-02-23 |website=News18 |language=en |archive-date=23 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223085048/https://www.news18.com/news/india/11-deaths-1-house-no-killer-all-of-burari-knows-the-family-didnt-want-to-die-1804745.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Psychological view==
According to psychologists,{{who|date=November 2025}} this sequence of events can be caused by 'shared psychotic disorder', where members blindly follow the instructions of one among them. They propose that Lalit had a 'delusional disorder’. However, their elder brother who stays in Rajasthan, believes that this was a well planned murder and not a suicide. He stated that if this whole event was done by Lalit and his wife, then their hands should be open instead of tied.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/burari-diaries-what-happened-in-the-house-where-11-of-family-were-found-dead/story-kUa5qSZhyNXQotEzPApHeL.html |title=Reincarnation, rituals and religion: The unsolved mysteries of Burari deaths |date=7 July 2018 |access-date=9 July 2018 |archive-date=10 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710011030/https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/burari-diaries-what-happened-in-the-house-where-11-of-family-were-found-dead/story-kUa5qSZhyNXQotEzPApHeL.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
* The 845th episode of the Indian crime television show called ''[[Crime Patrol (TV series)|Crime Patrol]]'' is based on the Burari deaths.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}
* Three-part [[true crime]] docu-series titled ''[[House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths]]'' is based on the case. Created by [[Leena Yadav]] and Anubhav Chopra, the series premiered on [[Netflix]] on 8 October 2021.<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 |access-date=7 March 2021 |archive-date=6 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306023309/https://gadgets.ndtv.com/entertainment/news/netflix-searching-for-sheela-burari-deaths-indian-predator-crime-stories-india-detectives-documentaries-2382219 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-13 |title=House of Secrets The Burari Deaths director Leena Yadav: 'The mind behind the crime is the biggest catch' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/house-of-secrets-the-burari-deaths-netflix-leena-yadav-7562608/ |access-date=2021-10-19 |website=The Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=19 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019062412/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/house-of-secrets-the-burari-deaths-netflix-leena-yadav-7562608/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Why House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths is the best Indian true crime documentary on Netflix |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/why-house-of-secrets-the-burari-deaths-is-the-best-indian-true-crime-docuseries-on-netflix/cid/1881284 |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=www.telegraphindia.com |archive-date=7 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407181527/https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/why-house-of-secrets-the-burari-deaths-is-the-best-indian-true-crime-docuseries-on-netflix/cid/1881284 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Disney+ Hotstar]] has released a series titled ''[[Aakhri Sach]]'' starring [[Tamannaah Bhatia]] and [[Abhishek Banerjee (actor)|Abhishek Banerjee]] which is loosely based on this incident.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-11 |title=Aakhri Sach trailer: Tamannaah Bhatia plays dedicated cop who is trying to find the 'missing element' in case which shook the nation |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/aakhri-sach-trailer-tamannaah-bhatia-plays-dedicated-cop-8888167/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=The Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=11 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811160118/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/aakhri-sach-trailer-tamannaah-bhatia-plays-dedicated-cop-8888167/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ''[[The Great Indian Suicide]]'' was released on 6 October 2023 on [[Aha (streaming service)|Aha]] based on the Burari death incident.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-26 |title=Aha announces mystery thriller The Great Indian Suicide |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2023/Sep/26/aha-announces-mystery-thriller-the-great-indian-suicide-48042.html |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Gaanth Chapter 1: Jamnaa Paar]], a JioCinema web-series released on Jun 11, 2024 is based on this incident.
* Vallathoru Kadha by Babu Ramachandran, Video Journalist Episode No:5 is based on Burari Deaths, it is featured in Malayalam.

==See also==
* [[Folie à deux]]
* [[2007 Mymensingh mass suicide]], similar incident in Bangladesh

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Mass suicide}}

[[Category:2018 suicides]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:2010s in Delhi]]
[[Category:July 2018 in India]]
[[Category:June 2018 in India]]
[[Category:Mass suicides]]
[[Category:Psychosis]]
[[Category:Suicides in India]]

Burari deaths - Revision history

Bsdmission at 14:00, 23 March 2026