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The accused Arvind Singh with his wife Babita (Img: X)
Azamgarh: A shocking incident in Uttar Pradesh’s Azamgarh district has left three people dead after a dispute during a puja ceremony allegedly escalated into violence. A man reportedly opened fire at his wife and two priests before taking his children hostage inside the house, leading to a tense seven-hour standoff with police.
The incident took place in Shambhupur village of Azamgarh, where panic spread among residents after reports of gunshots from the house. Police teams immediately reached the spot and started efforts to control the situation.
According to the initial police investigation, the accused, identified as Arvind Singh, allegedly got involved in an argument during the puja being conducted at his residence. The dispute reportedly intensified, following which he fired shots.
His wife Babita Singh and two priests, Mahendra Pathak and Akhilesh Mishra, were killed in the firing. Police officials reached the location after receiving information about the incident and secured the area.
The exact reason behind the confrontation is being investigated. Officials are examining statements from witnesses and collecting evidence to understand what led to the shooting.
After the firing, the accused allegedly locked himself inside the house along with his children. The situation turned into a hostage crisis as police tried to convince him to surrender.
A team of police personnel remained deployed at the spot for several hours while negotiations continued. Authorities focused on safely rescuing the children trapped inside the house.
After around seven hours, police launched an operation to end the standoff. The accused was injured during the action and later died. The children were rescued, with reports stating that one child sustained injuries during the incident.
Police have started a detailed probe into the case. Investigators are looking into the circumstances surrounding the puja dispute, the sequence of events and the motive behind the attack.
The incident has created fear among residents of the area, while police officials continue collecting evidence and questioning people connected with the case.
