Panchayat double murder accused shot dead in ‘police encounter’

Bareilly: A day after a 38-year-old man from Bareilly allegedly killed his mother-in-law and brother-in-law and critically injured his 30-year-old wife in full view of those present -- including his two minor children -- during a village panchayat convened to resolve a family dispute, he was shot dead in a "police encounter" in the Izzat Nagar area early Tuesday, officials said.SSP Anurag Arya said, "We had been searching for the accused, Afzar Khan, after receiving a tip-off that he was hiding on the outskirts of the village and was armed. The input suggested he was planning to kill his wife. A team from Izzat Nagar police station moved in to arrest him. When confronted, he opened indiscriminate fire, injuring two personnel. They were taken to hospital and are stable. In retaliatory firing, Khan was killed." Officials added that Khan had previously been convicted of his uncle's murder.The development followed a panchayat held on Monday afternoon in Rahpura Chaudhary locality. As relatives and locals attempted to mediate, tensions escalated when Khan's brother-in-law, Adil (20), allegedly struck him with a slipper. In response, Khan repeatedly stabbed his mother-in-law, Asma (54), and Adil, both of whom died from excessive bleeding.Police said Khan also attacked his wife, Saima, with a knife in front of their children, aged 8 and 5, as she tried to intervene. She was critically injured and is undergoing treatment at a private hospital, where her condition remains serious. She had been staying at her parental home for the past two days following frequent quarrels with him.The SSP added, "Saima's statement has been recorded before a magistrate and a forensic team has examined the scene. An FIR under BNS section 103 (murder) was registered late Monday."