Azamgarh puja dispute turns deadly, five killed in shootout

A dispute during a puja at Shambhupur Gahaji village in Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh district turned into a horrific killing. Police said that while a Mahamrityunjaya chant was underway at the house, Arvind Singh opened fire on his wife Babita, the two priests who had come for the puja, and his own son. He then locked himself in a room of the house with his children. After a police operation lasting nearly seven hours, Arvind too was killed in a shootout. Police said a total of five people died in the incident.

According to the family, Arvind's brother Sunil Singh had been murdered earlier. To bring peace to his soul and calm the atmosphere at home, Arvind's wife Babita had arranged a Mahamrityunjaya chant at the house. Two priests, Mahendra Pathak and Akhilesh Mishra, had come to the house for the puja.

When Arvind returned home on Tuesday evening and saw the puja underway, he began questioning the priests. Reports say he asked both priests for their Aadhaar cards, and the dispute escalated over this issue. According to some reports, Arvind had already been opposed to the puja being held at the house, and there was already tension in the family over this.

After the dispute escalated, Arvind took out a weapon kept at the house and shot his wife Babita. Police said he then also fired at the priests, Mahendra Pathak and Akhilesh Mishra, who were conducting the puja. Three people died in this shooting. As soon as they were informed, police cordoned off the area and surrounded the house.

After the shooting, Arvind locked himself in a room of the house along with his children. Police appealed to him to surrender. Relatives and officials tried to communicate with him for nearly seven hours, but he was not willing to come out. Since the children's lives were at risk, police handled the situation with extreme caution.

When Arvind did not come out until late at night, a commando team was called in. Police entered the house using stun grenades and tear gas. Police said Arvind opened fire at this point. In the effort to bring the children out safely, police fired back, injuring Arvind. He was taken to hospital but died during treatment.

In the same incident, Arvind's son was also hit by a bullet and reportedly died before or after being taken to hospital. Police brought out two girls safely and they are undergoing treatment. In all, Arvind, his wife, two priests and his son, five people in total, died in the incident.

Police are investigating the dispute that broke out during the puja, the demand for the priests' Aadhaar cards, the family's earlier disagreements, and the background of the prior murder of Arvind's brother. The weapon used in the incident and other evidence are also being examined.