Uttar Pradesh, March 2: A man allegedly hacked four members of his family to death with an axe and critically injured his elder brother following a dispute over property in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district, police said on Monday.
The incident occurred in the intervening night of Sunday and Monday at the family’s house in the Rupaideeh area of Ramnagar. The victims were identified as the accused’s father Badlu Ram (60), mother Sanju Devi (56), sister Parvati (42), and grandmother Sitala (80). All four succumbed to their injuries on the spot.
According to police, the accused attacked his elder brother when he attempted to intervene during the assault. Both the accused and the injured brother are currently undergoing treatment at a hospital and are reported to be in stable condition.
Police said the incident was triggered by a heated argument over the distribution of money and jewellery linked to a recently sold piece of land. The accused was allegedly enraged after his father refused to give him a share of the sale proceeds.
Additional Superintendent of Police Durga Prasad Tiwari said a case has been registered and the accused has been taken into custody. “Based on the written complaint, a case has been registered. The accused has been taken into custody and is under medical treatment,” he said.
“A preliminary inquiry indicated that the incident took place after a sudden dispute as the accused was angry over not being given a share of the money,” Tiwari added.
Police said the axe used in the crime has been recovered and the bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination. Statements of relatives and local residents are being recorded as part of the investigation.
Superintendent of Police Ram Nayan Singh said the exact sequence of events will be established after a detailed probe. “The exact sequence of events and motive will be established after a detailed investigation,” he said.
Circle Officer Pahup Singh said a dispute over money appeared to be the immediate trigger, though other angles are also being examined.
Following the incident, additional police force and Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order.
Residents of the locality expressed shock over the incident. A neighbour, Arvind Kumar, said, “We had never heard of any serious dispute within the family. What we saw from outside appeared normal, but it now seems that the reality inside the house was very different.”
