Murder was ruled out since both doors to the room were locked from inside and had to be broken open.

However, many members of the Rabari community, which observed a partial bandh on Tuesday to condole the deaths, are still sceptical of the suicide theory. They have demanded a fair inquiry into the incident.

A group of teachers from Kathwada village in Duskroi taluka, who had worked with Ishwarbhai, said they did not believe that Ishwar could set his children on fire. ``No father can burn his children, especially since two of his daughters had been married only a couple of months,'' they said.

Ishwarbhai's relatives and neighbours also complained about the apathy of the Kalol police station in charge who, they say, refused to lodge a complaint even after the family did not return for three days. ``We tried to convince the inspector that it was a serious incident but he refused to take our complaint. On the contrary, he gave in writing that he could not even accept an application,'' alleged Ishwarbhai's brother-in-law Lalabhai Rabari. He said the inspector claimed he was a relative of a Union Minister.

Relatives also criticised the Haalol police for not acting after an acquaintance of Ishwarbhai, Deepak Goswami of Odhav, informed them that he had seen the family in Pavagadh on June 26. They said Goswami had also given a letter, passed him over by Ishwarbhai, to the police alleging that he had been kidnapped and was being instructed by the abductors from a distance. The abductors had reportedly asked Ishwarbhai to reach Mount Abu.

Sixty-five-year-old Lilabhai Rabari, who raised his nephew Ishwar after his father's demise, said, ``We never thought that Ishwar and his family would meet such a gruesome end. But more pain came from the police in Kalol and Haalol who could have averted this tragedy had they swung into action immediately after our complaint.''

Meanwhile, a five-member team of forensic experts from Ahmedabad collected samples from the dharamshala's room no 17 to determine the inflammable material the Rabaris had used to commit suicide.

Official sources said the chemical used could have been brake fluid, a crude petroleum product used in vehicles.

Joint Police Commissioner (Headquarters) Deepak Swaroop, who is investigating the case, said the police was waiting for the forensic report, expected by Wednesday, which could provide important clues.

A Haalol police official said they had found a 25-page note in Gujarati, the gist of which was, ``It is wrong to say I ran away with my family because of the debts''. Sources said the statement was repeated over and over again in the note.

Several names were also mentioned in the note, but officials refused to make them public on the grounds that that could hamper investigations.

Dharamshala manager Jinendra Jain reportedly told the police that the family was there for two days and did not demonstrate any sign to show they'd been brought there by force.

The police also drew a blank in their search for the Rabaris' white car in garages and parking places in Haalol and other towns of Panchmahals district, as well as Kalol, which the family had visited prior to arriving at Pavagadh.