Five members of the family were found dead in Raipur; police suspect a murder-suicide

A couple, their two minor daughters and a son were found dead in a house in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, police said on Saturday (July 18, 2026).

The deaths, which took place in the rented house of the victims in Sanjay Nagar locality, came to light late on Friday evening (July 17, 2026), an official said.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the man poisoned his family members before ending his life, although the exact cause of death will be confirmed after a detailed autopsy and forensic analysis, the official said.

The deceased have been identified as Sajid Ali (50), his wife Rabia Bano (45), son Irshad Ali (20) and daughters Shahida Begum (15) and Irshaba Parveen (12).

The homeowner and neighbors alerted the police after repeated calls to the family went unanswered and a foul odor wafted from the locked house, the official said.

The police broke down the door and found the dead bodies of Sajid, his wife, son and daughters lying on the floor, he said.

The family lived in the rented house for the last eight months. Sajid was in the business of buying and selling used batteries, the official said.

According to the preliminary investigation, the family was last seen on Thursday night and the home remained locked throughout Friday, prompting another tenant in the home to contact the landlord.

Senior police officers and a forensic team examined the site late on Friday night after which the house was sealed for further investigation.

Police suspect a man mixed a poisonous substance in his family’s food before he allegedly committed suicide. However, an autopsy and forensic analysis will determine the exact cause of death, police said.

Those who are in need or have suicidal tendencies can seek help and advice on the phone number of this line.

Published – 18 Jul 2026 23:24 IST