It was the superstition of a family head that claimed the lives of five members of a family and left three others struggling for life at hospital after they consumed “prasad” laced with poisonous substances. Family head Kanchan Singh Rajput (43) also video recorded the incident.
The incident occurred on intervening night of March 25 and 26 at Nasia Colony in Gangapur City under Sawai Madhopur district. Those who were declared dead included Kanchan Singh, his wife Neelam, 40, son Pradyuman and daughter Dreamy and brother Deep Singh.
According to the police, four of them died on the spot while one of them breathed his last on way to hospital.
All those who consumed the prasad fainted and it was Kanchan’s niece Rashmi, who first informed the police after she gained consciousness in the morning.
According to the police, all victims were found unconscious when the police reached the spot. “The police took Kanchan’s mother Bhagwati Devi (70), Lucky Singh, 11, and Rashmi, 22, to the hospital. The condition of all of them is critical and we have referred them to Jaipur’s SMS Hospital,” superintendent of police, Sawai Madhopur, Parm Jyoti said.
The head of the family, Kanchan, was a camera person and the police found tripod and video camera from the site.
According to the police, the victim performed a yagna and rituals followed by distribution of prasad laced with some poisonous substances.
“According to Rashmi, Kanchan had convinced all of them that they will be able to meet God after having the prasad,” the police said.
“The family prepared some eatables and Kanchan mixed something in it,” said a police officer from Gangapur City over phone.
“He (Kanchan Singh) told family members that they were eating the prasad and when we will be in problem, the God will appear to save us,” said Parm Joyti.
The video camera used to make the recording has been seized and the police said that the matter is under investigation.