Lucknow Double Murder-Suicide: Pragya Mishra Says She Could Not Tell Mother About Sister Divya’s Death

Journalist and YouTuber Pragya Mishra has spoken about the difficulty of informing her mother that her sister, Divya Mishra, had been killed in Lucknow, saying she initially told her mother that Divya was in critical condition while her body was kept at a post-mortem facility. Divya, a 33-year-old banker, was allegedly shot dead by her estranged husband outside her workplace in Gomti Nagar on Thursday, according to a report.

In a post on X, Pragya said she had not found the courage to tell their mother the truth. She said the post-mortem had been scheduled for the following morning and that Divya's body was in the mortuary freezer. Double Murder-Suicide Rocks Lucknow: Pragya Mishra’s Sister Shot Dead by Husband Manas Vajpayee, Accused Kills Sister Before Suicide.

Journalist and YouTuber Pragya Mishra Shares Post After Divya Mishra's Murder

Divya Mishra Shot Outside Bank

According to police, Divya was working as a relationship manager at a private bank near Manoj Pandey Crossing in Gomti Nagar. Police said her estranged husband, Manas Bajpai, allegedly reached the bank at around 12.15 pm and shot her following a brief argument.

Police said Bajpai, 37, then returned to his residence near Husadiya Crossing, where he allegedly shot his younger sister, Sheeba, 31, before taking his own life. The three deaths are believed to have occurred within roughly 30 minutes. Lucknow Shocker: MNC Employee Killed by Former Lover Days After Engagement, UP Police Arrest Accused.

Family Dispute and Divorce Proceedings

Police said Divya and Manas had been married for around 10 years but had been living separately for about three years. They had no children. Divya had filed for divorce in family court last year and had also sought compensation and the return of dowry articles, according to Lucknow Police Commissioner Tarun Gauba.

Pragya alleged that her sister had faced repeated physical and emotional abuse during the marriage. She said Divya had told her that Manas would assault her over minor issues, including an incident involving vegetables ordered through a quick-commerce application. These allegations have not been independently established by police.

Pragya also alleged that Manas had stalked Divya before the shooting and that Divya had been living separately because of continuing marital problems. Police are examining the circumstances surrounding the couple's relationship as part of the investigation.

Three Firearms Recovered

Police have recovered three firearms from Manas's house near Husadiya Crossing — two pistols and a country-made .32-bore firearm. Investigators are examining how he obtained the weapons and whether they were sourced from one person or different suppliers.

Forensic examination indicated that Divya suffered a gunshot injury to the back of the head. Sheeba and Manas also sustained gunshot injuries near their right earlobes. Police are conducting ballistic tests to establish which firearm was used in each shooting.

Police Probe Continues

Investigators are examining CCTV footage, the accused's movements, communications and contacts before and after the shootings. Police are also looking into a WhatsApp status allegedly posted by Manas after Divya's killing, in which he reportedly accused his wife of cheating and referred to his intention to kill himself and his sister.

Pragya has also raised questions about the source of the firearms and alleged that Manas travelled by autorickshaw before and after the shooting. Police have not publicly confirmed that allegation.

The investigation remains underway, with police focusing on the sequence of events, the source of the weapons and the circumstances surrounding the three deaths.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 21, 2026 04:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).