Rat Poison Ingredient Found in Ciscera, Watermelon Samples
Mumbai: Four members of a family in south Mumbai’s Pydhonie district died last month due to rat poison, police officials said on Thursday.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Pravin Mundhe said the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report confirmed the presence of zinc phosphide in the internal organs (liver, kidney, spleen), stomach contents, bile and abdominal fat samples of the deceased, identified as Abdulla Dokadia (44), his wife Nasrin (35) and daughters Aayesha (16) and Zaineb (13).
“The watermelon sample also tested positive for zinc phosphide, while all other food items tested negative. The report will be examined in depth. We will consult forensic doctors. Further investigation into the incident is on,” the DCP said. he said. Zinc phosphide is used primarily as a highly toxic acute rodenticide to control rats and mice.
“Forensic experts who examined the internal organs of the deceased Abdulla Dokadia, Nasrin (35), Aayesha (16) and Zaineb (13) found traces of zinc phosphide. However, it is not clear whether the rat poison was consumed accidentally (or deliberately). So far, we have not found a strong reason why the entire family would take such an extreme step,” another official said.
Further investigation is being carried out by JJ Marg police station, which has recorded the statements of relatives and neighbors, the official added. The Dokadia family, residents of Ghari Mohalla on Ismail Kurte Road, had hosted a get-together of their relatives on the night of April 25. At around 1 a.m., hours after the guests had left, Abdullah Dokadia, his wife Nasreen, and their daughters Ayesha and Zaineb ate pieces of watermelon.
They suffered severe bouts of vomiting and diarrhea in the early hours of April 26 and were taken to a local hospital before being transferred to the government-run JJ Hospital, where all four died during treatment.
