आजमगडमध्ये भीषण थरार: पत्नी आणि दोन पुरोहितांची हत्या करून मुलांना...
उत्तर प्रदेशातील आजमगड येथे कौटुंबिक विधीदरम्यान पत्नी आणि दोन पुरोहितांची गोळ्या झाडून हत्या करणाऱ्या आणि स्वतःच्या मुलांना ओलीस ठेवणाऱ्या इसमाचा...
By GT24x7 Reporter··GlobalToday24x7
A severe violent confrontation in Shambhupur village, situated under the jurisdiction of the Ahraula police station in Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh district, culminated early Wednesday in five fatalities following an armed standoff lasting over seven hours. The confrontation commenced on Tuesday evening after an armed individual fatally shot his wife and two Hindu priests who had gathered at the residence to perform a religious ritual.
Following the initial shooting, the assailant barricaded himself inside a room on the property, taking his minor children hostage and initiating an extended encirclement by local and specialized police contingents. The confrontation escalated when the suspect discharged his weapon inside the room, injuring his son and prompting tactical teams to deploy non-lethal breaches and enter the premises. In the ensuing exchange of fire, the suspect was critically injured, later succumbing to his wounds at a government medical facility.
The Shooting Incident During the Religious Ceremony
According to official briefings provided by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anil Kumar and Varanasi Zone Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Naveen Arora, the sequence of events began around 6:00 PM on Tuesday. The accused, identified by authorities as Arvind Singh, returned to his home and encountered a religious ceremony underway, reportedly organized by his wife, Babita Singh, alongside senior family members.
Disputes regarding the purpose of the ritual emerged during preliminary inquiries. Family relatives reported to investigators that the ritual was arranged in response to Singh’s persistent alcohol dependency and behavioral disturbances. However, an escaping attendee noted that the prayer was connected to family rites concerning Singh’s deceased brother, who had died approximately two years earlier.
Eyewitnesses and investigators stated that Singh strongly objected to the presence of the priests, entered into an altercation, and demanded identification cards. The verbal confrontation escalated when Singh retrieved a licensed firearm kept on the premises and opened fire, instantly killing his wife, Babita (35), along with two priests identified as Mahendra Pathak (60) and Akhilesh Mishra (55). Other attending priests fled the scene and alerted neighboring residents and law enforcement.
Tactical Standoff and Hostage Rescue Operation
Following the triple homicide, Singh retreated into an interior room with his three minor children—daughters aged ten and eleven months, and an eight-year-old son—locking the entry points from within. Police forces from eight surrounding stations, alongside tactical commandos, forensic units, and administrative officials including District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar and DIG Sunil Kumar Singh, established a containment perimeter.
Negotiators, supported by extended relatives and village elders, maintained communication for nearly seven hours, urging Singh to lay down his arms and release the children. According to police accounts, Singh declined repeated appeals to surrender, threatening to fire on any approaching officers and demanding that discussions wait until daylight.
The tactical posture changed abruptly in the early hours of Wednesday when a gunshot was heard from within the barricaded room. Law enforcement teams determined that immediate intervention was mandatory to prevent imminent loss of life among the children.
Room Breach, Gunfire Exchange, and Aftermath
Utilizing stun grenades and tear gas canisters, specialized personnel forced entry through the door. ADG Naveen Arora stated that as officers crossed the threshold, Singh fired multiple rounds at the team from his revolver, fully emptying the cylinder. Officers returned fire in self-defense and to secure the children, bringing the suspect down.