LUCKNOW: A 16-year-old boy allegedly hacked his elder brother, sister-in-law and their three-year-old son to death while they were asleep in their home in Gorakhpur district in the early hours of Monday. The gruesome triple murder took place around 3 am in Balua village under Bansgaon police station limits, nearly 50 km from the district headquarters.The deceased have been identified as Amit Gupta, his wife Ranjana Gupta and their son Reyansh Gupta. According to police, all three were sleeping in the same room when the accused, Amit’s younger brother, allegedly entered with a sharp-edged weapon and launched a sudden attack. The victims suffered multiple injuries and died on the spot before they could react or seek help.The family’s two-storey house was occupied by both brothers and their parents. While Amit and his family, along with the parents, lived on the ground floor, the accused stayed in a room on the upper floor.According to police sources, the teenager allegedly came downstairs around 3 am and entered the room where the family was sleeping. He then repeatedly attacked the three victims with a blood-stained cleaver-like weapon, inflicting fatal injuries.The accused’s father told police that he woke up after hearing screams and rushed to the room. He found the bodies of his elder son, daughter-in-law and grandson lying in pools of blood. Moments later, he allegedly saw his younger son emerging from the room carrying the weapon. Shocked and terrified by the scene, he was unable to stop him. The accused then reportedly returned to his room upstairs.After informing neighbours, the family alerted the police. Senior police officers, including the Senior Superintendent of Police and Superintendent of Police, rushed to the spot. The accused was later taken into custody from his room, where he was allegedly found sitting with the blood-stained weapon.Superintendent of Police Dinesh Puri said the three victims were sleeping in the same room and were killed there. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination, while the accused is being questioned.Preliminary investigation suggests a long-running family dispute may have triggered the killings. The Gupta family runs a grocery shop in the village, where the younger brother reportedly worked. Amit had returned to the village a few months ago after working elsewhere. Investigators suspect the accused feared that his elder brother would take control of the family business, leading to frequent arguments within the household.Based on a complaint lodged by the victims’ father, police have registered an FIR and launched a detailed investigation. Authorities are also examining the mental condition of the juvenile and other possible motives behind the crime.The incident has sent shockwaves through the village, with residents struggling to come to terms with the brutal killing of an entire family by one of its own members.
