Seven members of a family, including three minors were found murdered at their home in Nai Basti area in Ghaziabad district, a senior officer said here today.
The deceased, identified as Satish Chandra Goel (65), a businessman, his wife Manju (62), son Sachin (40), daughter in-law Rekha (38) and three grandchildren -- Megha (13), Neha (10) and Aman (7) -- were murdered last night using a sharp edged weapon, IG R K Vishwakarma said.
He said that initially it was suspected that an axe was used in the multiple murder, but later a knife with fingerprints on it was recovered from the spot.
"Satish ran a shop, besides he was also into property dealing," Vishwakarma said.
He said that the forensic team which visited the spot also found shoe prints of two persons from the spot.
The IG said that prima facie it seemed that the killers were known to the family.
"Around 10 PM one of the Goel's neighbour called him and enquired about loud sounds coming from his house on which the former replied that it was his family matter," Vishwakarma said.
"Besides normally there is no enmity with the children, it seems that they were killed to eliminate evidence," he added.
Vishwakarma said that the Special Task Force has also been involved in the investigation and senior officers were on the spot.
"We are narrowing down on the suspects. There is one driver, who was removed by Goel around 10 days back," he said.
On being asked that if the purpose was loot, the IG said that though a cupboard was found open, but whether anything was missing or not could be said as all the family members have been killed.
Meanwhile in Ghaziabad IG Bhavesh Kumar said that the motive of the murder was not clear yet and police was examining CCTV footage of the victim's shop.
He said that robbery could be one of the motives as several household items were found scattered on the floor.
On being asked about deteriorating law and order in the region, Kumar said that police admitted to security lapses, even as traders from the nearby area protested against the police's incapability to maintain security.
SHO of Kotwali Police station, Lallu Singh Maurya has been suspended on account of negligence, he said.
The house has been locked, said Bhavesh, adding the investigations are on to nab the miscreants.
