An armed man who gunned down his wife and two priests during a religious ceremony in Uttar Pradesh’s Azamgarh district, India, then took his three children hostage, was shot dead by police early Wednesday after an eight-hour standoff, according to police officials.
During the course of the siege, the man fired at his 10-year-old son, who was rushed to hospital but did not survive his wounds.
Identified as Arvind Singh, the accused was gunned down when he opened fire on police personnel who had moved in to free the three children he was holding captive. His two daughters were pulled to safety and rushed to hospital for treatment.
The violence erupted in Shambhupur village on Tuesday night, when Singh began firing during a puja at his residence, leaving his wife Babita and two officiating priests dead on the spot.
The religious ceremony was being performed to mark the death of Singh’s brother. Police said that, in their preliminary account, Singh had arrived home while the ritual was still underway and raised objections over the priests’ presence there.
A heated exchange broke out before he pulled out a firearm and shot dead his wife along with the two priests, later identified as Mahendra Pathak and Akhilesh Mishra.
Two more priests who had been present for the ceremony escaped the premises once the shooting began, police added.
Following the killings, Singh barricaded himself inside the house along with his three children and a stash of weapons, setting off an eight-hour confrontation with police.
Security personnel cordoned off the residence and made repeated attempts to talk him into surrendering and letting the children go. Azamgarh SSP Anil Kumar said the police also sought the help of Singh’s family members to persuade him to come out safely.
Despite these efforts, Singh warned he would open fire on both police and family members and refused to free the children. Matters took a turn when officers heard the sound of a gunshot from within the house — Singh had shot his young son, wounding him.
This prompted police to launch a rescue operation, deploying stun grenades and tear gas to breach the standoff. As officers closed in, Singh turned his licensed revolver on them, emptying all six chambers. Police fired back in self-defence and to shield the children from harm, wounding Singh in the process.
He was rushed to hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead. His son, also hospitalised after being shot, later died of his injuries, while the two daughters who were rescued remain under treatment.
The bodies of Singh’s wife and the two priests have been sent for post-mortem examination.
