Three sisters die under suspicious circumstances in MP's Chhatarpur; bodies exhumed for post-mortem
Three minor sisters, including a nine-month-old infant, died under suspicious circumstances in Pipora Khurd village of Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh, prompting authorities to exhume their bodies for post-mortem examination, police said on Saturday. The incident triggered shock and grief in the village, said Matguwan police on Friday.
The deceased have been identified as the daughters of Balmukund Kushwaha. Free Press Journal reported their ages as 9-year-old Poonam Kushwaha, 5-year-old Manisha Kushwaha, and 9-month-old Chahat Kushwaha. Lokmat Times, however, gave their ages as seven-year-old Poonam, three-year-old Manisha, and nine-month-old Chahat.
According to preliminary information, the girls had reportedly consumed food before their deaths, though accounts of the meal differ. Lokmat Times reported that they had eaten baingan bharta and roti, while Free Press Journal stated they had eaten potato and brinjal curry. Free Press Journal further reported that their health deteriorated soon afterwards, and the family rushed them to a hospital, where all three were declared dead.
Lokmat Times reported that the family buried the bodies without informing police or arranging post-mortem examinations. Local police and doctors later reached the village and inspected the burial site.
Chhatarpur Chief Medical and Health Officer R.P. Gupta told IANS that he reached the spot with his entire team. "The police, revenue and FSL teams were also informed and called," he said. Gupta added that teams were collecting information and that the bodies would be exhumed for post-mortem. "The medical and forensic reports will help establish the actual cause of death," he said.
During the exhumation, which was witnessed by SDM Lalan Bagri, tehsildar Durgesh Tiwari, Ishanagar station in-charge Ripudaman Singh, and Matguwan station in-charge Ankur Chaubey, police seized food ingredients and other items from the spot and sent them for forensic examination, according to TI Chaubey.
Officials are investigating whether the deaths were linked to food poisoning or another cause. TI Chaubey said that the actual circumstances would become clear only after the post-mortem and forensic reports. Officials are questioning family members and examining the sequence of events before and after the girls fell ill. Forensic experts have been called to help collect evidence, and police have said they will take further action after receiving the post-mortem and forensic reports.