Azamgarh Man Who Shot Wife, 2 Priests, Held Children Hostage Killed In Police Encounter

Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Azamgarh rescued three children after a nearly seven-hour standoff with a man accused of shooting dead his wife and two priests at their home in Shambhuganj village. The accused, identified as Arvind Singh, was critically injured in retaliatory police firing during the rescue operation. One of the children, his eight-year-old son, also suffered a gunshot wound.

The incident began on Tuesday evening when priests had gathered at the house for a religious ritual. According to the preliminary police investigation, Arvind objected to the ceremony and got into an argument with those present. Azamgarh Triple Murder: Man Allegedly Shoots Dead Wife and 2 Priests After Aadhaar Card Dispute During Puja (Video).

Wife, Two Priests Killed During Ritual

The deceased were identified as Arvind's wife, Babita, 32, and priests Mahendra Pathak, 60, and Akhilesh Mishra, 50. Two other priests who were present reportedly escaped unharmed. Police said Arvind's mother had arranged the ritual in connection with the memory of his brother Sunil, who was killed in 2019. Family members had reportedly opposed the ceremony, leading to tension before the shooting. According to the preliminary account, Arvind returned home while the ritual was underway and questioned the priests. An argument followed, after which he allegedly opened fire, killing his wife and the two priests.

Seven-Hour Standoff Ends With Accused, Son Dead

The seven-hour standoff ended early Wednesday after police launched an operation to rescue the children. According to police, Arvind Singh refused repeated appeals to surrender and remained inside the house with his three children. The situation escalated after a gunshot was heard from inside the room. Police then used stun grenades and tear gas before breaking open the door. As officers entered, Arvind allegedly opened fire with his revolver, prompting retaliatory firing from the police team. Azamgarh Triple Murder: 2 Priests, Woman Shot Dead During Puja; Kids Held Hostage.

Arvind and his eight-year-old son, Shaurya alias Lakha, were critically injured during the exchange of fire and taken to the district hospital. Arvind was later declared dead, while Shaurya also succumbed to his injuries. Police said the child had already suffered a gunshot wound inside the room before the final police operation. His two daughters, 10-year-old Pari and 11-month-old Saanvi, were rescued unharmed and handed over to relatives.

What Led to the Shooting?

The initial shooting took place during a religious ritual at the family home in Shambhuganj village. Police said Arvind had opposed the ceremony, which had reportedly been organised by his family.

According to the investigation so far, Arvind returned home while the ritual was underway and questioned the priests. Police said he also demanded to see their Aadhaar cards. An argument followed, after which he allegedly opened fire, killing his wife Babita and priests Mahendra Pathak and Akhilesh Mishra. Two other priests reportedly escaped.

After the shooting, Arvind allegedly barricaded himself inside the house with the children, triggering the lengthy police standoff.

Police Operation and Investigation

Senior police officers and an ATS commando team were involved in the rescue operation. Police said the priority throughout the standoff was to secure the children's safety. The bodies of the three initial victims were sent for post-mortem examination, while forensic teams examined the crime scene and collected evidence. Police said no personnel were injured in the encounter. Further investigation will establish the sequence of events and circumstances surrounding the deaths.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 23, 2026 08:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).