FSL confirms borax, cyanide in Chhattisgarh serial killings; eight men poisoned
FSL Raipur confirms borax and cyanide in viscera samples from victims of alleged serial killer Ramsahay Jaiswal in Chhattisgarh's Baloda Bazar district.
Forensic analysis has confirmed that at least five of the eight men allegedly killed in Kharve village, in Chhattisgarh's Baloda Bazar district, died of poisoning, with samples testing positive for borax and cyanide. Two reports are still awaited, while no forensic samples could be collected in one case because the victim had already been cremated.
The findings come two and a half months after the arrest of 46-year-old Ramsahay Jaiswal, who faces allegations of murdering eight men from the village. The report from the Forensic Science Laboratory in Raipur has been sent to the Baloda Bazar police, Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai said.
Kharve, home to more than a thousand people, grew uneasy as men began dying in succession. The thread linking the deaths, villagers realised, was that each victim had shared a drink with the accused or consumed liquor he had provided.
The first death was recorded on February 7, when Badri Patel, a 58-year-old mason, was found dead at his home by his daughter. The last was that of Mahetru Sahu, 40, on May 14.
As the deaths mounted, residents sought help from priests and held prayers, but Mahetru's death deepened their suspicion of Jaiswal. Their discussions turned to how every victim had drunk liquor supplied by him. It also emerged that Kartik Kumhar, a 23-year-old labourer, had begun vomiting soon after consuming such a drink.
On June 6, villagers submitted a written complaint to the police. A probe followed, leading to Jaiswal's arrest on June 22.
Investigators found that the accused harboured a grievance against each of the victims. "He had different reasons, accusing them of abusing him, eyeing his wife, owing him money, or performing black magic on him," an official said, adding that Jaiswal also believed the village had never given him the respect he felt he deserved.
As the investigation advanced, seven bodies that families had buried were exhumed. Post-mortems were conducted and viscera samples sent to the Raipur laboratory. At the time, police suspected Jaiswal had laced the drinks with suhaga, a toxic substance used to kill rats.