Amethi Family Murder: Accused Chandan Verma Injured in Police Encounter in Noida

Amethi: Days after an entire family of four including two children in the Shivratanganj area was shot dead; the main accused has been arrested. The accused, Chandan Verma has also been injured in a police encounter.

Amethi Shooting: Accused Injured in Police Encounter

The police shot a man accused of gunning down an entire Dalit family in Amethi in his leg early Saturday while they were recovering the pistol used in the killing at his instance. According to police, the incident happened when Sub-Inspector Madan Kumar Singh of Shivratanganj Police Station was taking possession of the pistol found near a canal track.

Just when Singh was inspecting the pistol and its magazine, Chandan Verma, the accused, snatched Singh's gun from his holster and fired at him intending to kill him, police in a statement said. In defence, Inspector Sachchidanand Rai fired a gunshot which hit Verma in his right leg, they said.

Amethi Family Murder: Accused Chandan Verma Arrested

Verma was arrested near a toll plaza in Noida Friday night while fleeing to Delhi. Sunil Kumar, 35, a government school teacher, his 32-year-old wife Poonam, and the couple's two daughters, Drishti and Suni, aged six and one, were shot dead in the Ahorwa Bhawani area of Amethi.

Poonam had once accused Verma of harassing her and also filed a police complaint against him. Police have seized a country-made pistol and a black Enfiled Bullet used in the crime. Verma was sent to Tiloi Community Health Centre for treatment. 

How Has Main Accused in Amethi Murder Been Arrested?

The UP Police confirmed that the accused was arrested after taking a clue as indicated by the accused's WhatsApp status recovered by the police. According to police sources, the accused, Chandan Verma, had posted a WhatsApp message stating that "five people will die, I will show you soon," hinting at his plan to kill all four family members and then commit suicide. 

The status was updated on September 12, days after the Amethi family had lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against Chandan, on August 18, accusing him of eve-teasing. However, the police are probing the case and interrogating the accused to ascertain further facts.

(Inputs from PTI)