Man dies after killing wife and two priests in UP

A man identified as Arvind Singh was shot dead by police in Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh district after a prolonged standoff that followed the shooting of his wife and two priests during a religious ritual at his house, officials said. His son, who was shot during the confrontation, later died of his injuries, bringing the death toll to five. The incident began on Tuesday evening, around 6 p.m., in the Ahraula police station area of Azamgarh district, when Arvind returned home and found his wife, Babita Singh, 32, participating in a Hindu ceremony conducted by priests. According to police, an argument broke out after he objected to the ritual. He allegedly took out his licensed revolver and shot Babita first, then Mahendra Pathak, 60, and Akhilesh Mishra, 50. The three were killed on the spot. Police said the ceremony had been arranged by Arvind's mother and wife in connection with the death of his brother, Sunil, who was murdered in 2019. Azamgarh Senior Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar said the family had previously complained about Arvind's aggressive behaviour and had organised the ritual because they suspected an evil spirit was influencing him.