Police suspect the six died due to suffocation as burnt firewood was found in the hut when they entered but did not rule out consumption of poisonous food being the reason behind the tragedy.

According to police, Raju Jadav, Sitaram Rauth, Mahesh Rauth, Govinda Jadav, Pramatha Mondal, Panchu Bajpei — all from Jharkhand — worked as daily labourers and lived in the hut in the hatchery. The other employees noticed this morning the room was closed from inside. They called out to the occupants to open the door. At last, when they broke the door, they found all six lying on the floor.

Palsah Santra, an executive of the hatchery, informed the Onda police station at 7 am.

Bankura SP said there was no injury mark on the victims’ bodies, which have been sent to Bankura Medical College for postmortem. Manger and other employees of the hatchery were questioned .

In his FRI filed with the police, Santra said they died due to suffocation in the room. Police found charred wood and ash from inside the room and said the six had vomitted before they died.