A property dispute turned deadly in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda district after a man allegedly shot dead his mother and younger brother following an argument over ancestral land, police said on Sunday. Notably, he killed his mother on May 10, the day when the world celebrates Mother’s Day.
The incident took place in the Baberu Kotwali area, where the accused, identified as Rajkishore Gupta, reportedly opened fire on his 60-year-old mother Shanti and 35-year-old brother Devidin before fleeing the spot.
According to police, tensions had been simmering within the family over the sale and division of ancestral property. Officials said Rajkishore was opposed to the sale of the land, which had allegedly been carried out by his father, leading to frequent disputes within the household.
Police said a heated argument between the family members escalated into a violent confrontation. In a fit of rage, the accused allegedly used his licensed firearm to shoot his mother and brother.
Hearing gunshots, local residents alerted the police. Officers rushed to the scene and shifted the injured family members to the Community Health Centre in Baberu, where doctors declared both dead.
Speaking on the incident, Banda Superintendent of Police Palash Bansal said cops reached the spot immediately after receiving information that a man had fired at his mother and younger brother.
He said forensic experts inspected the crime scene and collected evidence, while preliminary investigation indicated that the murders were linked to a dispute over ancestral property and opposition to the land sale.
The bodies have been sent for postmortem examination and multiple police teams have been formed to trace and arrest the accused, who remains absconding.
Police said a case will be registered under relevant sections based on the complaint received from family members, adding that law and order in the area remains under control.
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(With inputs from Siddhartha Gupta.)