What was meant to be a joyous day for a family in India turned into a nightmare on Wednesday when a son returned home to find his parents and younger sister murdered in their home.
Arjun Kumar told police in South Delhi that he found his father Rajesh, mother Komal, and younger sister Kavita dead inside the family home early Wednesday morning, after returning from his morning walk.
Rajesh, 51, and Komal, 46, were planning to celebrate their 27th wedding anniversary later that day, according to family members who spoke to the media. India Today, The Deccan Herald, and The India Tribune, citing police, reported that the three family members had been stabbed to death, with Arjun discovering their bodies and alerting neighbors, who then contacted authorities.
“I shivered when I saw the bodies,” a neighbor who assisted Arjun said. “Their throats were brutally stabbed. It’s horrifying.”
Satish Kumar, Arjun’s uncle and Komal’s brother, shared with The Tribune that his nephew called him around 7:30 a.m., two hours after finding his family dead.
“I was devastated when I saw my sister, brother-in-law, and niece lying lifeless,” Satish said. “I froze upon hearing the news.”
The uncle added that he was unaware of any disputes or conflicts that could have led to the tragic deaths of his sister, her husband, and their daughter.
Kavita, 23, was a college student, according to The Deccan Herald. Rajesh, a retired army officer, had been working as a local security officer.
“The mother-daughter duo were approachable and kind to everyone in the colony,” a friend of Kavita’s, identified as Anjali, told The Tribune. “It’s unimaginable that something so tragic could happen to them. Kavita and I would often discuss our studies. She used to help me whenever I struggled with something. Losing such a good friend is a pain I cannot put into words.”
Prakash Jarwal, a politician in the Delhi State Legislature, visited the crime scene and stated that investigators believe “someone entered the house and stabbed the victims in their necks.”
“This is a very unfortunate incident,” Jarwal said. “His son asked me, ‘Who will I live for now?’”