Azamgarh/Lucknow: She is too young to grasp the full horror that unfolded inside her home, but she could be the only eyewitness to the deadly sequence that claimed the lives of her mother, two priests and her six-year-old brother.
Testimony from Surviving Witness Could Impact Investigation
During a tense standoff, police surrounded a house where Arvind and her siblings were located. Authorities attempted to persuade Arvind to surrender, but she remained inside with her brother and sister. A senior police officer noted that Arvind’s account is crucial, as she was present during the shootings and survived the ordeal. Her testimony is expected to play a significant role in the ongoing investigation into the events that transpired inside the house.
For now, the focus around her is less on the investigation and more on helping a frightened 10-year-old child cope with a loss that is difficult for an adult to comprehend, said another officer privy to the probe.
“Today was the last day of the puja,” she told those around her, describing how her father, Arvind, opened fire. Arvind subsequently used the gun to threaten those around him, leaving the children trapped in the terrifying situation inside the house, according to her. In her account, the girl, still on a hospital bed, recalled how the family had been holding a puja at their home when the tragedy unfolded.