Amethi murder: School teacher, wife and 2 children shot dead at UP residence; CM Adityanath assures action

The four of the family were murdered in Amethi on Wednesday. (Photo credit: News18)

A family of four including a school teacher, his wife and two daughters, aged five and two, were shot dead at their rented house in Amethi district of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, police said.

The incident took place at the Bhavani Nagar roundabout in the city. The victims have been identified as 35-year-old Sunil Kumar, his wife, Poonam Bharti, and their two minor daughters Laado (5) and Shrishti (2).

All four were rushed to the hospital where they were declared dead on arrival. Notably, Sunil’s wife Poonam had filed a harassment and threat to life complaint against Chandan Verma, a resident of Raebareli, the police said. The case was registered under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

@UPGovt ,
Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) October 3, 2024

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken note of the incident and assured strict action against the culprits. “The incident that happened in Amethi district today is highly condemnable and unforgivable. My condolences are with the bereaved family. The UP government stands with the victim's family in this hour of grief. The culprits of this incident will not be spared at any cost, strictest legal action will be taken against them,” the Chief Minister said in a post on X.

The motive behind the incident is being investigated, police said, adding that prima facie, the incident does not appear to be a case of robbery.

"Unknown persons entered the home and shot dead the teacher, his wife and his two daughters (aged 5 and 2). It does not appear to be a case of robbery. The school teacher had filed a case against some Chandan Verma around August 18 in connection with commission of offences under the SC/ST Act. We are investigating if that is a possible reason for this," Amethi Superintendent of Police Anup Singh said.

The deceased Sunil Kumar was appointed a teacher in 2020 and served with the Uttar Pradesh Police prior to his appointment.

BSP leader and former UP Chief Minister Mayawati said that the murder of four members of a Dalit family was sad and worrying. “The government should take strict action against the culprits and the policemen there so that the criminals do not remain fearless,” she said.

Congress leader and former Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi also dialed MP Kishori Lal Sharma and spoke to him about the brutal incident, news reports said on Friday.