Two siblings, aged seven and five, were mauled to death allegedly by stray dogs in a forest area in Ruchi Vihar, in Southwest Delhi’s Vasant Kunj, said police, according to media reports.

Police said the children were attacked in separate incidents, two days apart, and succumbed to injuries. Police said they have informed the local authorities about the deaths and the matter is being investigated.

Around 3 pm on Friday, the older sibling, Anand, went missing from his home in Sindhi Basti, which is near the forest. Police said the Station House Officer along with other staff accompanied the mother to search for him. “After two hours, we found the child’s body near a wall inside a secluded/vacant plot. There were multiple injuries on the body,” said a police officer.

A case under sections of murder was registered at Vasant Kunj South police station and the body was sent to Safdarjung Hospital for an autopsy.

“The injuries looked like animal bites. When we questioned neighbours and locals, it came to light that there are many stray dogs inside the jungle area which often attack goats and pigs. The spot was inspected by the FSL team and the crime team,” said the officer.

On Sunday around 8 am, Anand’s younger brother Aditya (5) went with his cousin Chandan to the same jungle area to urinate. “Chandan was some distance from Aditya. After some time, when Chandan returned to the place where he had left Aditya, he found the boy surrounded by stray dogs. He was badly injured. SI Mahender of PS Vasant Kunj South, who was also in the area in connection with Anand’s probe, heard the screams of the boys and found that the dogs had attacked Aditya. He rushed the child to the Indian Spinal Injury Centre in his car, but the boy died during treatment,” added the officer.

Police said the autopsies of both siblings were conducted and reports will be sent soon.