A quiet village in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur district was left stunned after a 16-year-old boy allegedly murdered his elder brother, sister-in-law, and three-year-old nephew while they slept, in what police believe may be the fallout of a long-standing family dispute.
The horrifying incident occurred around 3 am on Monday in Balua village under the Bansgaon police station area, nearly 50 kilometers from Gorakhpur city. The victims were identified as Amit Gupta, his wife Ranjana Gupta, and their young son Reyansh Gupta.
According to investigators, the teenager allegedly entered the room where the family was sleeping and attacked them with a sharp-edged cleaver-like weapon. The assault was so sudden and brutal that all three victims suffered fatal injuries and died on the spot before they could raise an alarm or escape.
The family lived together in a two-storey house. While Amit, his wife, son, and parents occupied the ground floor, the accused reportedly stayed in a room upstairs. Police said the teenager came downstairs during the night and carried out the attack before returning to his room.
The accused’s father told police that he woke up after hearing screams and rushed to the room, only to find his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson lying in pools of blood. He allegedly saw the younger son leaving the room with the weapon but was too shocked to intervene.
After neighbours were alerted, police arrived at the scene and took the juvenile into custody. Officers claim he was found in his room along with the blood-stained weapon believed to have been used in the killings.
Senior police officials have launched a detailed investigation into the case. Preliminary findings suggest tensions over the family’s grocery business and ownership issues may have contributed to the crime. Investigators are also examining the teenager’s mental health and exploring other possible motives.
A murder case has been registered based on a complaint filed by the victims’ father. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination, while police continue questioning the accused and gathering evidence.
The brutal triple murder has sent shockwaves across the village, leaving residents struggling to comprehend how a family dispute could culminate in such a devastating tragedy.
