It all began when a man identified as Arvind Singh returned home around 6 pm and found his wife engaged in a religious ritual with two priests.
A man who shot his wife, two priests, and took three children hostage in Uttar Pradesh’s Azamgarh on Tuesday has been killed in a police encounter. During a standoff with the police, the man also shot one of his children, a son. Both the man and his son were taken to the hospital where they died of their injuries, police said.
It all began on Tuesday evening when a man identified as Arvind Singh returned home around 6 pm and found his wife Babita Singh (32) engaged in a religious ritual with two priests — Mahendra Pathak (60) and Akhilesh Mishra (50).
A verbal altercation ensued. In a fit of rage, Arvind pulled out his licensed firearm and allegedly shot his wife first followed by the two priests. He then took his three children and locked himself with them in a room.
7-Hour Standoff
According to Naveen Arora, Additional Director General of Police (ADG) of the Varanasi Zone, the police initially exercised restraint as the accused, Arvind, refused to come out of the house and insisted that they wait until morning. The situation escalated after Arvind opened fire from inside the premises, forcing the police team to enter as a last resort.
“Even after a seven-hour siege, the accused refused to come out and kept insisting we wait until morning…Finally, when he (accused Arvind) opened fire from within, the SSP and three or four members of the Special Operations Group (SOG) team were compelled to break down the door and enter as a last resort,” Arora told reporters. “We used stun grenades and tear gas; as the team members, including the SSP, entered, they came under fire and were forced to return fire,” he added.
The police managed to rescue all three children and rushed them to a hospital.
“One child, a boy, had sustained a gunshot wound, a fact discovered only after entering the premises…The other two girls are in a state of trauma and suffering from dehydration. He was using his elder daughter as a shield,” Arora said.
“Arvind and his son died of their injuries during treatment,” Dr Anil Kumar, Senior Superintendent of Police, Azamgarh, said.
Evidence collection from the scene and other necessary legal proceedings are underway.
Arvind Was “Mentally Disturbed”, “Exhibited Aggressive Behaviour”
According to the police, Arvind’s mother and wife had previously complained about his conduct.
“After speaking with villagers, the accused’s family members, and an individual who survived the shooting unharmed, the investigation so far has revealed that Arvind was mentally disturbed and exhibited aggressive behaviour,” SSP Kumar said. “His mother and wife had frequently complained about him assaulting family members and engaging in such conduct. Distressed by this situation, his mother and wife had organised a religious ritual. They suspected he was under the influence of an evil spirit and arranged the ceremony in the hope of dispelling it.”
