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.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. According to police, Arvind returned from the market around 6 pm and questioned the priests about the ritual. 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.His wife, Babita Singh, 40, and two priests, Mahendra Pathak, 44, and Akhilesh Mishra, 55, died on the spot. A third priest managed to flee. Several family members, including Arvind’s mother, Samla Devi, and his children, were present in the house at the time.Azamgarh SSP Anil Kumar said that after the firing, Arvind allegedly locked himself inside a room with his children. Police teams from three stations, along with senior officials, rushed to the spot.Arvind told the SSP through the window, “Sir, my children are hungry. My daughter is crying. Please get chocolates for them from the village shop.” The SSP ordered chocolates worth Rs 500 for the children.The SSP then asked Arvind to come out. Arvind refused, saying, “We will not come out now. It is very late. My daughter and children have fallen asleep. I do not step out of the house at night.”He further said, “I will open the room and come out in the morning. If I come out now, I will be killed.”The SSP assured him that nothing would happen to him and said, “You and your children will be safe. Open the door and come out.”16 member ATS commandos arrived from Varanasi. The team surrounded the house from all sides.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 ATS and SOG teams were put on alert. The teams used stun grenades and tear gas inside the house. Around 20 personnel and the police chief then entered the house and broke open the door of the room.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. The situation escalated after a gunshot was heard from inside the room, prompting police to launch a rescue operation.Police used stun and tear-gas grenades before breaking open the door. As officers entered, Arvind allegedly opened fire with his revolver. According to police, he fired all six rounds, while the police team responded with several rounds.Family members were also brought in to help with the negotiations. During the standoff, he allegedly shot his six-year-old son. Police said they warned him and fired in the air, but he continued shooting and refused to surrender. Officers then fired back to protect themselves and rescue the two children — a five-year-old girl and a seven-month-old girl.Arvind was seriously injured in the retaliatory firing and was taken to a hospital, where he died.The bodies have been sent for postmortem examination. Police and forensic teams are investigating the scene, and legal proceedings are underway. Investigators are also looking into the motive behind the killings.
