Prayagraj: The prime accused in the Meja triple murder case was injured in a police encounter late Tuesday night after he allegedly attempted to escape custody when a police team took him to Paranipur Road to recover the murder weapon.The accused, Himanshu Yadav, 21, of Kukurkatwa village, sustained gunshot injuries and was admitted to SRN Hospital for treatment.According to DCP (Yamuna Nagar) Vivek Chandra Yadav, Himanshu’s brother Ankit Yadav and an accomplice, Nihal Gautam, 21, who allegedly helped execute the crime, have also been arrested.Police have also arrested gram pradhan Guddu Yadav, who reportedly mediated a truce between the victim’s family and Himanshu around four months ago. He was allegedly pushing for Himanshu’s marriage with a girl from the victim’s family.Three elderly members of a family — Shyam Lal alias Kalloo, 65, and his sisters-in-law, Amravati Devi, 58, and Indravati Devi, 60, — were found murdered outside their house in the Meja area on Tuesday morning. Kalloo’s wife, Phoolkali, who is mentally ill, was spared.Police said Himanshu was in a relationship with Shyam Lal’s niece and wanted to marry her, but the proposal was opposed by the family. During questioning, the accused told police he met the girl at her grandmother’s house on June 13, three days before the incident.Police said on Monday night, Himanshu reached the girl’s house in an inebriated state and had an altercation with Shyam Lal. As the elderly man slapped Himanshu, he, along with his friend, killed them with a blunt object.He was arrested later in the day.
