Varanasi/Lucknow: A nearly seven-hour standoff in Shambhuganj village in Azamgarh ended in a police encounter early Wednesday, with a 42-year-old man accused of killing his wife and two priests being shot dead after refusing repeated appeals by police to surrender and holding his three children hostage inside the house. On being challenged, the man also shot his six-year-old son.
Arvind returned from the market around 6 pm and questioned the priests about the ritual, according to police.
Azamgarh SSP Anil Kumar said that after the firing, Arvind allegedly locked himself inside a room with his children. DIG, Azamgarh Range, Sunil Kumar Singh said police, relatives and family members made sustained efforts through the night to convince Arvind to surrender, but he refused to release the children or step out. ADG (Varanasi Zone) Naveen Arora said negotiations continued for seven hours, with Arvind repeatedly asking police to leave and insisting the matter would be settled in the next morning. Police said they warned him and fired in the air, but he continued shooting and refused to surrender.
Police have registered two FIRs in the incident—one by the police personnel involved in the encounter and another by a relative of the slain priest against the slain accused, Arvind Singh . Police also seized the revolver used by Arvind to shoot four people. The incident took place in Shambhupur village under the Ahraula police station area, where a puja was being performed at the house of Arvind. He allegedly demanded that they show their Aadhaar cards , leading to an argument. As the dispute escalated, Arvind allegedly took out a pistol kept in the house and opened fire. Police teams from three stations, along with senior officials, rushed to the spot. Meanwhile, Arvind warned the police, “Leave, otherwise I will kill my children. Soon after, the sound of gunfire was heard from inside the room. The situation escalated after a gunshot was heard from inside the room, prompting police to launch a rescue operation. Family members were also brought in to help with the negotiations. During the standoff, he allegedly shot his six-year-old son. Officers then fired back to protect themselves and rescue the two children — a five-year-old girl and a seven-month-old girl.