A religious ritual at a house in Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh turned into a shooting on Tuesday evening, 22 September, after a man allegedly opened fire at his wife and priests who were conducting the ceremony.
The accused, identified as 40-year-old Arvind Singh, then locked himself inside the house with three children. What followed was a nearly seven-hour standoff involving senior police officers and a Special Operations Group team.
The situation ended early on Wednesday, 23 September, when police entered the house after Singh allegedly opened fire. Singh and his eight-year-old son were critically injured. Both later died in hospital, while his two daughters were rescued.
What Happened Inside The House?
The incident took place in Shambhupur village under the Ahraula police station area of Azamgarh.
According to police, Singh returned home at around 6 pm on Tuesday and found his wife, 32-year-old Babita Singh, taking part in a religious ritual with priests.
The ritual had reportedly been arranged by Singh's family after his mother and wife complained about his aggressive behaviour. Police said the family suspected that he was under the influence of an evil spirit and hoped the ceremony would address the situation.
A disagreement followed after Singh objected to the ritual. Police said he became angry when his wife objected to his behaviour towards one of the priests.
He allegedly took out a licensed firearm kept at the house and shot Babita and two priests, Mahendra Pathak and Akhilesh Mishra.
The two priests were identified by police and media reports as being around 60 and 50-plus years old. Reports differ on whether four or five priests were present, but they agree that other priests managed to escape while two were killed.
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Then Came The Seven-Hour Standoff
After the shooting, Singh locked himself inside a room with three children.
Police teams reached the house and attempted to persuade him to surrender. Senior officers, including Azamgarh SSP Anil Kumar and other officials, were involved in the operation.
According to ADG Varanasi Zone Naveen Arora, Singh refused to come out and repeatedly insisted that police wait until morning.
The house was eventually surrounded as officers tried to get the children out safely. Police said they continued negotiations for around seven hours before the situation escalated.
The standoff took another turn when police heard a gunshot from inside the house.
Officials said Singh had shot his son. Police then moved towards the room after Singh allegedly opened fire at them.
The police team used stun grenades and tear gas while entering the premises, according to ADG Arora. Officers then returned fire after coming under fire themselves.
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What Happened To The Children?
All three children were eventually rescued.
The eight-year-old boy had suffered a gunshot wound. He was taken to hospital along with Singh, but both died from their injuries during treatment.
Singh's two daughters, aged 10 years and 11 months, were rescued. Police said the girls were traumatised and dehydrated after the prolonged ordeal.
Police also said Singh had used his elder daughter as a shield during the standoff.
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Why Was The Puja Being Held?
According to SSP Anil Kumar, Singh's mother and wife had previously complained about his conduct and alleged assaults on family members.
Police said the family had arranged the ritual because they believed he was under the influence of an evil spirit.
Hindustan Times also reported that the family had observed unusual behaviour and Singh's drinking habit before organising the puja. One priest who escaped reportedly gave a different account, saying the ritual was linked to concerns about whether the soul of Singh's deceased elder brother was at peace.
These details are part of the preliminary investigation and accounts from people connected to the incident. They do not, by themselves, establish a medical or other explanation for Singh's behaviour.
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What Police Are Doing Now
The shooting of Babita Singh and the two priests, along with the deaths during the police operation, are now part of the police investigation.
Police said evidence is being collected from the scene and other necessary legal proceedings are underway.
The police account is that officers attempted to resolve the hostage situation through dialogue before entering the room after Singh opened fire.
The investigation will establish the sequence of events through witness statements, forensic evidence and other material collected from the scene.
For now, the confirmed sequence reported by police is that three people were allegedly shot dead during the initial incident, three children were held inside the house for around seven hours, one child was shot during the standoff, and police exchanged fire with Singh before he was taken to hospital.
The case has therefore moved beyond the initial shooting. Investigators now have to establish the full circumstances surrounding the deaths, the firearm used, the earlier complaints made by family members and the events leading up to the police encounter.
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TL;DR | News At a Glance
What happened in Azamgarh?
A man identified as Arvind Singh allegedly shot his wife and two priests during a religious ritual at his home.
Where did the incident happen?
The shooting took place in Shambhupur village in the Ahraula area of Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh.
Why was the religious ritual being held?
Police said Singh's family had arranged the ritual after complaints about his aggressive behaviour and because they suspected he was under the influence of an evil spirit.
What happened after the shooting?
Singh allegedly locked himself inside a room with three children and refused to surrender.
How long did the hostage situation last?
The standoff lasted around seven hours.
What happened to the children?
Police rescued all three children. Singh's eight-year-old son suffered a gunshot wound and later died in hospital. His two daughters were rescued.
How did Arvind Singh die?
Police said Singh opened fire when officers entered the room, leading to an exchange of fire. He was critically injured and later died in hospital.
What is the police action now?
Police are collecting evidence and conducting further legal proceedings into the shooting and the events surrounding the encounter.
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