Delhi Tragedy: Mother Suspected of Killing Two Daughters Before Suicide Attempt
In a shocking incident in Delhi's Malviya Nagar, police discovered crushed naphthalene balls and a strip of crepe bandage in a flat where two sisters were found dead and their mother unconscious on Thursday. Authorities suspect that the 50-year-old woman, Sunita, killed her daughters Radhika (33) and Gunisha (28) before attempting to die by suicide.
Details of the Crime Scene
Police entered the ground-floor flat through a ventilation window after breaking a glass pane, finding Sunita lying on the floor and Gunisha on a bed in a room. Investigators believe Gunisha was strangled with the crepe bandage, while Radhika was smothered with a pillow, with signs of struggle indicating the latter. Cut marks were also found on the hands of one of the daughters.
The mixture of crushed naphthalene balls is suspected to have been used to sedate one of the daughters, and Sunita may have consumed it as well. "These are our suspicions. We are awaiting the post-mortem reports of the sisters and medical reports of the woman, who was receiving treatment," a police source stated.
Family Background and Investigation
Radhika, described as a special child, had previously assisted a teacher working with specially-abled children but quit a few years ago. Gunisha had completed a law course. The family, living in the area for 50 years, was known to be private and not very social, with neighbors describing them as well-behaved and good-natured but mostly keeping to themselves.
A senior police officer noted, "We learned that the family was not social and may have been dealing with some form of depression. All angles are being investigated, including possible domestic discord." The family occupied the ground floor of a four-storey building, with Sunita's mother-in-law on the second floor and her husband's brother and family on the remaining floors.
Neighbor Accounts and Police Response
Neighbors expressed shock, with Lalit mentioning that Sunita was a caring mother who accompanied her daughters whenever they went out. Ramesh Thakur (75) recounted that Sunita's husband returned home around 5 pm and, after failing to enter, contacted police with neighbors' help. On Friday, senior officers visited the spot and spoke to family members for over an hour to gather more insights.
Ranjana, who works in homes in the area, recalled that Sunita had recently mentioned wanting a house help, describing her as polite. The investigation continues as police await forensic reports to confirm the exact causes and circumstances of this tragic event.
