Indian-Origin Family Killed in "Suspicious" Fire in Canada, Police Launch Investigation
Tragic Incident Leaves Three Dead in Ontario Province
Police in Ontario, Canada, said a "suspicious" fire that burned a home last week claimed the lives of an Indian-origin couple and their teenage daughter.
A press statement issued by Peel Police on Friday stated that a house at the intersection of Big Sky Way and Van Kirk Drive in Brampton caught fire on March 7.
Investigators discovered what appeared to be human remains inside the destroyed house after the fire was put out, but at the time, it was impossible to determine how many people had died.
Three family members were recognized as being among the burnt remains on Friday: Rajiv Warikoo, 51; Shilpa Kotha, 47; and Mahek Warikoo, 16, their daughter.
Rajiv was a volunteer officer in the Toronto Police Department's auxiliary program, the force's representatives confirmed to CBC Toronto. In 2016, he concluded his work.
According to Rajiv's LinkedIn profile, he is employed with the Ministry of Health of the Ontario government.
According to the police, they lived at the address prior to the fire.
According to CTV news, Peel police Constable Taryn Young stated on Friday that the fire was considered suspicious.
"At this time, we are investigating this with our homicide bureau, and we are deeming this as suspicious as the Ontario Fire Marshal has deemed that this fire was not accidental," Young stated.
After the fire was contained, detectives conducted a search of the premises and found what they thought to be human remains. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation said that the extent of the damage to the house was so great that it was unknown at the time how many individuals might have been inside during the fire.
Kenneth Yousaf, the family's neighbor who passed away, stated that the family had resided on the street for almost 15 years without ever causing him any trouble.
Yousaf claimed that a family member informed him about the fire last week after hearing a loud "bang." "The home was on fire as we emerged. Such sorrow. Everything collapsed in a matter of hours," Yousaf remarked.
Police claimed they are still looking into the deaths of the three family members in a press release and asked anyone with knowledge to come forward.
"The circumstances surrounding the house fire remains the focus of an active investigation, and anyone with information or video footage (dashcam or otherwise) is urged to contact Homicide detectives," police stated.
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