WHY did the Kumar family leave their mobile phones at their Legalega home in Nadi on the day that they went missing?

This is the question that continues to burn on the mind of Daya Ram.

The body of his daughter, Usha Devi, 54, was discovered on a small plateau in the Nausori Highlands on Monday along with bodies of her husband Nirmal Kumar, 63, their daughter Nileshni Kajal, 34, and her two daughters Sana, 8, and Samarah, 11.

The sole survivor is a one-year-old grandchild who was discovered sitting atop Mr Kumar’s body.

Mr Ram said he has had sleepless nights trying to make sense of what had led to the deaths of his daughter and her family.

“Nirmal, my Usha and Kajal would never ever leave their phones at home,” the 75-year-old Tavua farmer said.

He made the comment while speaking to The Fiji Times outside the Kumar family Legalega residence which has been cordoned off by police since Monday.

“Nirmal is the type of person who would always carry his mobile phone around with him.

“Even when he was at home, his mobile was always in his pocket.

“He loved talking to his family and would always call me or someone in the family throughout the day.

“When we didn’t hear from him on Saturday and then Sunday, I knew something was wrong.”

Mr Ram said the last time he saw or spoke to the Kumars was mid-week last week.

“They came over to my place in Tavua to discuss the preparations for a pooja (Hindu religious ceremony) that we were supposed to have today (yesterday) here in their home in Legalega.

“And we had such a great time. I still can’t understand why and how something like this could happen.

“When I called all their phones on Monday, neighbours said they heard them all ringing inside the house.

“Something happened to make them leave their mobile phones at home or maybe somebody took it and placed it in the house – we are waiting for police to find out what happened to my beautiful daughter and her family.”