The man who fatally shot a school teacher, his wife, and their two minor daughters in their home in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi had allegedly been involved in an extramarital affair with the woman, police said.
Amethi Superintendent of Police Anoop Singh said Chandan Verma, the prime accused, confessed to the killings during questioning, and revealed that a recent falling out with the woman had led to the violence.
“The accused said he had been having an illicit relationship with Poonam for the last 1.5 years. However, the relationship between the two had soured recently, which caused him stress. It appears that due to this, he shot and killed the family of four,” Singh said at a press briefing.
Police said Verma fired 10 rounds from a single pistol, killing the teacher, Sunil, his wife Poonam, their 6-year-old daughter Drishti, and their 1-year-old daughter. He also attempted to take his own life but failed.
According to sources, several armed assailants, including Verma, entered the teacher’s home and opened fire on the family before fleeing the scene on Thursday. All four victims were pronounced dead at the hospital.
Verma was arrested a day later at a toll plaza in Noida while travelling toward Delhi. He was injured in a shootout when he attempted to escape by grabbing an officer’s gun.
Police traced him based on a WhatsApp message he had posted indicating his intention to harm the family, sources said. The message read, “Five people will die, I will show you soon.”
Prior to the murders, the teacher’s wife had filed a complaint against Verma under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. This made him a prime suspect in the case.
An investigation is on and police are working to recover the pistol and the Bullet motorbike used in the crime.