Thiruvananathapuram, Aug 2: Days after the mysterious deaths of 11 members of a family in Burari, a similar incident has come to light in Kerala's Idukki district. The police found bodies of four members of a family near their house in Thodupuzha on Wednesday. Cops suspect it to be a case of black magic. The deceased were identified as K Krishnan (51), his wife Susheela (50) and their two children Asha (21) and Arjun (17).

Neighbours and some relatives informed the police after they visited the house and noticed blood stains on the floor and walls. The police found the bodies buried in a pit dug at the rear of the house and recovered a hammer and a knife. "The father had a rubber plantation but also appeared to have practised witchcraft. We still have not been able to find the cause and means of death. We are probing all angles," police sources told NDTV.

According to a PTI report, sources say wounds indicate as if the bodies were badgered with something, possibly a hammer. Police said they could have been killed after July 29. The bodies were positioned one over the other. Neighbours reportedly told the police that the family was reserved and would rarely interact with them. Interestingly, Krishnan was booked for allegedly practising black magic three years ago.

Ten of the 11 members of the Bhatia family were found hanging from an iron-mesh in the ceiling in Burari on July 1, while the body of 77-year-old Narayan Devi was lying on the floor in another room of the house. The family was not expecting to die and thought that "the earth will shake" and "there will be thunder in the sky", following which they will be saved.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 02, 2018 08:22 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).