Tragic Discovery in Rajgir: Four Pilgrims Found Dead in Locked Dharamshala Room
In a deeply distressing incident, four Jain pilgrims from Karnataka were found dead under mysterious circumstances at a Jain dharamshala in Rajgir, Nalanda district, on Friday morning. The victims, identified as an elderly woman, her two daughters, and her son, were discovered inside their room, which had been locked from the inside, raising immediate suspicions of a possible suicide.
Sequence of Events and Police Investigation
The family had checked into the dharamshala on January 31, but concerns arose when they kept their room locked from inside starting February 2. The situation came to a head on Friday morning when a foul smell emanated from the room. After repeated attempts to contact the occupants went unanswered, the dharamshala management alerted the police.
Police teams swiftly arrived at the scene and were forced to break open the door. Inside, they made a grim discovery: the bodies of the four pilgrims along with around 25 strips of sleeping pills, some cash, and other personal items. Nalanda Superintendent of Police Bharat Soni stated, "The room was locked from inside. After breaking open the door, the room was searched. According to the forensic team's preliminary report, the incident appears to be a case of suicide."
Victims Identified and Travel Details
The deceased have been identified as:
- G R Sumangla, 78 years old
- Shilpa G R, 48 years old (daughter)
- Shrutha G B, 43 years old (daughter)
- G R Naga Prasad, 50 years old (son)
All were residents of Gubbi Taluka village in Tumakuru district, Karnataka. Their pilgrimage journey had taken them from Bengaluru to Delhi, then to Nepal, before arriving in Rajgir on January 31.
Ongoing Investigation and Official Statements
SP Soni emphasized that the exact cause of death can only be determined after the post-mortem report and a thorough investigation by the forensic team. The Bengaluru police have been contacted to inform the families of the deceased, highlighting the inter-state coordination required in this tragic case.
Dharamshala in-charge Mukesh Jain provided additional context, noting that the four pilgrims arrived on January 31, stating they were visiting Rajgir while traveling from Nepal. Only one of them, G R Naga Prasad, submitted an Aadhaar card for identification, listing a Bengaluru address; the others did not provide identity cards.
Community Impact and Broader Context
The dharamshala, which has approximately 50 rooms, is currently hosting numerous tourists, making this incident particularly shocking for the local community and fellow pilgrims. The discovery has sent ripples of concern through the religious tourism circuit in Rajgir, a significant pilgrimage site for Jains.
Authorities are treating this as a suspected suicide case based on the locked room and recovered sleeping pill strips, but they stress that the investigation remains active and comprehensive. The forensic analysis and post-mortem results will be crucial in confirming the circumstances surrounding these tragic deaths.
