A man in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, shot dead his wife and two priests during a religious ceremony on Tuesday evening before locking himself inside his home with his three children as hostages. The accused, Arvind Singh, was killed in a police encounter after a standoff lasting nearly seven hours; his young son, who was shot during the confrontation, also died during treatment, officials confirmed on Wednesday, 23 September 2026.

How the incident unfolded

The violence began at approximately 6 pm on Tuesday when Arvind returned home to find his wife, Babita Singh, 32, participating in a religious ritual alongside two priests — Mahendra Pathak, 60, and Akhilesh Mishra, 50. According to police, Arvind objected to the ceremony, an argument broke out, and he allegedly drew his licensed firearm and opened fire on his wife before shooting both priests.

He then retreated into a room inside the premises with his three children, locking himself in. Police teams reached the location promptly and began efforts to negotiate a peaceful surrender, but Arvind allegedly refused to come out and asked officers to wait until the following morning.

The seven-hour standoff

Naveen Arora, Additional Director General of Police (ADG), Varanasi Zone, said officers exercised considerable restraint throughout the siege. 'Even after a seven-hour siege, the accused refused to come out and kept insisting we wait until morning,' Arora told reporters. The situation turned critical when Arvind allegedly opened fire from inside the house, forcing police to act.

Officers deployed stun grenades and tear gas before breaking open the door. 'When he opened fire from within, the SSP and three or four members of the Special Operations Group (SOG) team were compelled to break down the door and enter as a last resort,' Arora said, adding that police returned fire after coming under attack.

Children rescued; son succumbs to gunshot wound

All three children were rescued from the premises and taken to hospital. Police discovered only after entering that one of Arvind's sons had sustained a gunshot wound — allegedly inflicted by Arvind himself during the standoff. Arora noted that Arvind had reportedly been using his elder daughter as a human shield. The two daughters were described as traumatised and dehydrated but physically unharmed.

Azamgarh Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anil Kumar confirmed: 'Arvind and his son died of their injuries during treatment.'

Background: History of aggressive behaviour

Preliminary investigation and statements from family members and local residents suggest Arvind had a history of violent conduct. SSP Kumar said the evidence gathered so far indicated he was 'mentally disturbed and exhibited aggressive behaviour,' with his mother and wife having previously complained about assaults. According to police, the family had arranged the four-day religious ceremony precisely because they suspected Arvind was under the influence of an evil spirit and hoped the ritual would help.

A local resident said five priests had arrived for the ceremony; three managed to flee when the violence erupted, while Pathak and Mishra were shot. Another resident noted the ceremony had been ongoing for four days, with Tuesday marking the evening prayers of the fourth day.

Investigation ongoing

Police have begun collecting forensic evidence from the crime scene. Statements from surviving witnesses, family members, and neighbours are being recorded to establish the full sequence of events. Relevant legal formalities are also underway. The case highlights the risks faced by first responders in armed domestic hostage situations and raises broader questions about mental health awareness and access in rural Uttar Pradesh.