7 of family killed in Ghaziabad

Though the house was found ransacked,police doubt that it was a case of robbery gone wrong and are probing personal or professional enmity angles.

The family lived in a two-floor house in Ghanta Ghar area.

Senior officers said three bodies were found in a corridor of the house,two were in one bedroom and two in another.

Neighbours called police after they noticed that the main door of the house was ajar.

Bhavesh Kumar Singh,Inspector General of Police (Meerut Range),said: “It seems the victims were killed by a sharp instrument. Prima facie,it does not seem any shots were fired,but it will become clear after the post-mortem reports come in. The motive is not clear yet. We have formed various teams and are working on several leads.”

Police said the entry to the house seemed “friendly”.

“There seem to be no signs of forced entry. After talking to neighbours we got to know that there was a wedding house nearby and the DJ was playing loud music. It is possible that the music drowned any screams for help,” an officer said.

Police said Satish was a businessman with interests in property and food products.

“Robbery is a possible,but unlikely motive. Relatives told us that Satish was involved in five upcoming building projects in Ghaziabad. These required daily cash transactions in lakhs of rupees. His son was also involved in the same business. It seems he was due to have a kidney transplant next week,so there was money in the house for that as well. Some of the cupboards in the house look ransacked,” an officer said.

Satish’s two other daughters live in Faridabad and Ghaziabad.

Police suspect that the house was made to look “like it had been robbed”.

“There are several glaring loopholes in the robbery theory. The first question is why were three young children killed? Ordinarily,children are killed in a crime of vengeance,or if the accused does not want to be identified at a later stage. We have also found some jewellery in the house,” the officer said.

Police are struggling to gauge the number of goods stolen as no member is alive.

According to police,blood spatter was found on both floors of the house and the injuries seem extremely brutal. Police said some had cuts on the neck and others were slashed in the stomach and face. Police suspect that at least four of them died of excessive blood loss.

Neighbours told police that around 9 pm on Tuesday they heard heated argument in the Goel household. “They called Satish who said it was an aapsi mamla (personal matter),” the officer said.

This,police suspect,might be an indication of personal enmity.

Some of the shops near the house have CCTV cameras and police will be looking at the footage. “We are hoping one of the cameras give us some leads. However,none of the cameras focus on the gate of the Goel residence,” police said.

Meanwhile,as news spread,angry residents held a protest against the state of law and order in Ghaziabad,but the situation was contained soon,police said.

The chowki in-charge of the area has been suspended.

Robbery unlikely to be motive: Police

n No sign of forced entry

n Not all jewellery taken

n Murder of children points to crime of vengeance

n Bodies found in corridor,bedrooms

n Were the family members chased and killed?

n Blood spatter on both floors of house

n Neighbours had heard loud argument in the house the night before

SATISH GOEL was businessman with interest in property and food products. Was involved in five upcoming building projects in Ghaziabad

SACHIN GOEL worked with his father on property transactions. Police probing if Sachin had any personal or professional enmity