Relative held for murder of seven

A man was arrested for murdering seven of his relatives, including five children, in north Delhi last month, said police officials here on Sunday.

Sanjay Rathore killed the family of seven - Om Prakash, Santosh and their children Dolly, Pooja, Kavita, Manju and Anuj - on July 31 on suspicion that they had Rs 500,000 in their Inderlok house, claimed police officials.

A special team of Delhi Police on Saturday nabbed the accused, a nephew of Santosh, from northwest Delhi.

“He had a longstanding grudge with the family after he was thrown out of their house a few years ago,” said Delhi police commissioner KK Paul.

“There are about half-a-dozen cases of theft and assault against Sanjay,” added Paul.

He said Rathore had used a knife to slit the throats of all the family members.

After murdering the couple, Rathore allegedly threatened the children and demanded money from them. “Since no money was there in the house, he could only get Rs30,000,” added Paul.

“Sanjay tried to burn the bodies and destroy evidence,” he said. Rathore then allegedly fled to Rohtak (Haryana).

Over 150 people, neighbours and relatives, were questioned in the course of investigations.

“Sanjay was the only person missing from the funerals and none of the other family members were able to trace him. We tried to contact him on his mobile but it was switched off,” Paul said.