This is an archive article published on May 22, 2020
Six of family among nine found dead in Telangana well
Ruling out a suicide pact, ACP Shyam Sundar said, “If it was a suicide pact, only the family of six would have committed suicide but there are three other bodies. We are investigating several angles.”
Police said that Alam and his family used to work in a jute mill nearby where they stitched bags.
The bodies of nine people, including six people of one family, were found in a well in Warangal Rural district since Thursday evening, police said on Friday.
While five bodies were discovered on Thursday evening in the well — situated beside a cold storage unit in Gorrekunta village — four others were found on Friday morning.
Among the deceased, police have identified Maqsood Alam and his wife Nisha, who were from West Bengal and had migrated to Warangal to work as labourers some 20 years ago. The deceased also include the couple’s sons — Sohail and Shabad — their daughter, and her three-year-old son.
The other three deceased were identified by the police as Shakeel Ahmed hailing from Tripura, and Sriram and Shyam from Bihar.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Shyam Sundar, Maqsood and his family used to work in a jute mill nearby, where they stitched bags.
They were renting a residence in Karimabad village but had moved to a room in the mill godown after the Covid-related lockdown was announced. While they were living on the ground floor, the two youths from Bihar stayed on the first floor.
The owner of the mill, S Bhaskar, said he visited the facility on Thursday and found Maqsood and his family missing. As their mobile phones were switched off, he informed the police.
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Initially, police suspected involvement of the Bihar youths in the disappearance of the family but after their bodies were found on Friday, all their deaths turned into a mystery.
On Thursday evening, Bhaskar and others discovered the first five bodies in the well. On Friday morning, Police drained the well and found the other four bodies. Police said they also found half-eaten food in the room where Maqsood’s family was living. The bodies have been sent for a post-mortem.
“Maqsood’s family has been living here since 20 years. Shakeel used to work as a driver at the jute mill while Shyam and Sriram worked in the mill. Maqsood’s daughter is divorced and she also lived with them with 3-year-old son. There are no injuries on the bodies. If it was a suicide pact, only the family of six would have committed suicide but there are three other bodies. We are investigating several angles,’’ ACP Sundar said.
The owner of the jute mill told the police that although the factory was closed, the family as well as the three others had enough dry ration and money and were not under distress.
Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance.
Expertise and Experience
Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues:
High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules.
Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes.
Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak.
Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More
Police said that Alam and his family used to work in a jute mill nearby where they stitched bags.
