17 mystery deaths in Jammu village: Medical institutions found half a dozen toxins, minister says

“Instead, detection by the PGIMER Chandigarh reveals the presence of aluminium and cadmium,” she said, adding, “CSIR-IITR, Lucknow found aldicarb sulfate, acetamiprid, diethyldithiocarbamate, chlorfenapyr.”

“DRDE-DRDO Gwalior found chlorphenapyr (and) abrin from the samples of sattu and maize bread,” she said. “NFL, FSSAI Ghaziabad found chlorfenapyr and chlorpyrifos from the food samples.”

“CFSL Chandigarh found chlorphenapyr in the viscera samples of all deceased,” she said.

The minister’s reply prompted the legislators to ask the government to order a CBI inquiry. “Why will someone give poison to innocent people,” asked Choudhary, regretting that the exact cause of the deaths is still not known.

CPI(M) MLA M Y Tarigami said, “This is unprecedented that mysterious deaths have taken place and the cause is still unknown.”

The minister asked the members to wait for the outcome of the Home Department inquiry, which is in progress. Their demand will be looked into once it is complete, she said.

Earlier, the government, in a written reply, said that 64 patients were admitted to Government Medical College Hospital, Rajouri, and 41 were discharged after treatment.

The 17 villagers had died due to “unknown reasons” between December 7, 2024, and January 19, 2025.

While the police investigation is underway, according to local villagers, it all started with a fest. Ever since December 2, when they gathered for the marriage of resident Fazal Hussain’s daughter Sultana, they have mostly been gathering for funerals, they recounted.

The deceased were from three families – Fazal Hussain’s, Mohammad Aslam’s and Mohammad Rafiq’s.

As panic spread, the administration imposed a ban on all social gatherings in the village, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah sent an inter-ministerial team there.