Pakistani Hindu lawmaker demands answers from Modi over migrant family's deaths in India

ISLAMABAD/JODHPUR: PML-N lawmaker Kheal Das Kohistani on Monday demanded answers from the Narendra Modi government over the death of almost a dozen members of a Pakistani Hindu family in India’s Jodhpur district.

Speaking during a session of the National Assembly earlier today, Kohistani said 11 members of a Hindu family who had migrated to India were killed. "How did the [PTI] government raise this issue with the Indian government," he asked.

At least 11 members of a Pakistani Hindu migrant family were found dead under mysterious circumstances at a farm in India’s Jodhpur district in Rajasthan, the Times of India had reported earlier today.

“The agents will trap people using the excuse of sending people there [to India]," the MNA said. "Pakistan is our motherland and it should not be left alone when facing challenges.

"[Prime Minister Narendra] Modi's extremist government should answer for the death of this Hindu family," Kohistani stressed.

According to local authorities, a member of the family was found alive outside the hut he lived in Lodta village, more than 100 kilometres away from Jodhpur city.

"The surviving family member claimed to have no idea about the incident, which believed to have happened in the night," the superintendent of police, Rahul Barhat, said.

"We are yet to ascertain the cause and means of death. They appeared to have committed suicide by consuming some chemical in the night," Barhat added.

The police officer said they had found a smell of some chemical lingering in the hut, suggesting they had consumed something.

On the other hand, NDTV reported that the family, belonging to the Bhil community, had come to India from Sindh, Pakistan, back in 2015 on a long-term visa. They had been living at the Lodta village farm, which they had hired for farming, for the past six months.

"There was neither any injury mark on any of the bodies nor any shreds of evidence of any foul play," the SP said. "But we have roped in a forensic team and a dog squad before arriving at any conclusion."

Police in its initial investigation hinted at some dispute in the family. "Once we interrogate the survivor, we would be in a position to find out what had led to this incident," Barhat said.

Authorities added that the deceased lived under the threat from the family of their daughter-in-law, the wife of Kewal Ram, the surviving member of the family.

"She has been living with her family in Jodhpur for some time due to some dispute," said the police officer, citing this as a possible trigger for their suicide.

Ram told police the family had dinner around 9-10pm on Saturday night before going to sleep. "I went to guard our crop against animals and slept there," he explained.

In the morning, when he came back, he found all his family members dead. "I then called my nephew who rushed to the spot with some other persons and informed police," Ram said.

The bodies have been sent for autopsy in Jodhpur.