New Delhi: As the collective death of 11 members of a family in Burari becomes a national talking point, a relative rues that the world is now looking at them as a family that practises occult and the constant media glare not allowing them to grieve.

Vishakha Chundawat, granddaughter of Narayan Devi, who was found dead along with her two sons, daughter and their families, said she has not had the time to mourn the death of her relatives with the relentless media spotlight and various theories about her “uncle being possessed by his father’s spirit”.

Vishakha is the daughter of Narayan Devi’s oldest son Dinesh, who lives in Kota in Rajasthan. Sujata, who lives with her family in Panipat, is Narayan Devi’s other surviving child.   

Vishakha clarified that the family is identified by the surname Singh Chundawat. She said only two among the 11, Priyanka and her mother Pratibha, were Bhatia. “We write our names as Singh Chundawat. My uncle’s name was Lalit Singh Chundawat and not Lalit Bhatia,” she said.

Dismissing reports of the Burari family practising superstitious rituals, Vishakha said all the cousins were excited about Priyanka’s (one of the victims) wedding and “things like registers with notes on salvation” never came up for any discussion among them.

“We have lost 11 of our family members. I was close to Priyanka didi and we cousins had made a WhatsApp group to discuss about her wedding. We all were excited since it was the first wedding among us cousins.”

“She never discussed about such things (notes about salvation).) Rather, we would talk about what all beauty treatments we would get done for her big day,” she added.  

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