Video Producer: Shohini Bose
Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam
An Indian-origin couple and their two children were found dead in their home in the US state of New Jersey, and police are investigating the matter as a homicide.
Tej Pratap Singh, 43, and Sonal Parihar, 42, were found dead alongside their 10-year-old son and 6-year-old in their Plainsboro home earlier this week on Wednesday, 4 October, the Plainsboro Police Department said.
“On the evening of October 4, authorities received a 911 call requesting a welfare check at a residence in Plainsboro. Upon their arrival, the Plainsboro Police Department discovered four dead victims in the house,” Middlesex County prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and chief Eamon Blanchard of the Plainsboro Police Department said in a joint statement on Thursday, 5 October.
What Did The Police Say?
Mayor Peter Cantu and Chief Eamon Blanchard, Director of Public Safety released a joint statement, saying that the Plainsboro community experienced a heartbreaking loss of life. The joint statement said, "Our public safety personnel remain vigilant and resilient and will continue to ensure the safety of the Plainsboro community."
Mayor Peter Cantu said, "We are all saddened by this tragic event. What happened in our community is beyond comprehension."
Blanchard said, "Please be assured that this is an isolated occurrence and there are no additional concerns for the safety and well-being of the community related to this incident."
The Plainsboro Police Department and the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office have collaborated on the investigation. Public records revealed that the couple purchased their Titus Lane home in August 2018 for $635,000.
What Did The Neighbours Say?
According to CBS News, relatives and community members were shocked by the family's deaths.
Quoted in media reports, the relatives said that Singh was an active member of the community and Sonal and he appeared to be a happy couple. Singh was a lead APIX engineer for Ness Digital Engineering, and Sonal, too, had a career in IT.
The neighbours said the family was friendly and often seen walking around the street. A neighbour said that her daughter used to meet the couple’s daughter at the bus stop to ride to school together every morning. The neighbour added that she texted Parihar but never received a reply.
“It was weird for me to not see her in the morning. They were such a sweet family,” the neighbour said.
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