Five arrested for killing mother, son and daughter

GREATER NOIDA: Five youths have been arrested for the murder of a woman and her son and daughter at their home in Omicron 2 of Greater Noida last week. The murder had been planned by a 19-year-old youth, police said, who suspected the woman’s son of having a relationship with his minor sister.
Manju Devi (39) was found dead on the floor of her house last Thursday, oozing blood from the head. Her two children — Krishna Kant and Priyanka — and the family’s Maruti Esteem had been missing since. Their father Pramod Yadav, who lives separately as Manju often complained about his drinking habits, had visited his family on Friday, but found the door locked from outside. When he peeped through the window, he said he saw his wife lying on the floor with blood all around her and claimed to have informed the police then.

A couple of days later on Sunday, Krishna Kant’s body was found floating in a canal in Dankaur. Another body, which apparently drifted away, was suspected to be that of Priyanka.

The five youths who were arrested on Tuesday were identified as Manish (19), Bittu (18), Praveen Bhati (18), Ankit Bhati (20) and Tarun Lohiya (18). An iron rod and a knife, which were reportedly used in the crime, were recovered from them. Police have also found some stolen jewellery and the Esteem (DL4C AD 7263) that belonged to the family.

According to police, Manish, who suspected Krishna Kant of having an affair with his sister, and his accomplices scaled the wall of the house on Thursday night and lay low until the family went to sleep. After killing all three in their sleep, they took the bodies of the son and daughter and dumped them in the canal. They left Manju’s body at the house itself as it was dawn by then.

“They waited for the family to fall asleep. When the TV was switched off, they entered the house stealthily and smashed their heads with iron rods. Then they stabbed the mother, daughter and son,” Gautam Budh Nagar SSP Ajay Pal Sharma said.

The SSP said Manish was opposed to an apparent relationship between Krishna Kant and his sister.

“They had a fight over this issue a few months ago. Manish initially planned to kill Krishna Kant and his mother. But they killed Priyanka too, fearing she would land them in trouble as she was a witness to the murder,” Sharma said.

The five accused youths had initially planned to dispose of all the three bodies, but left Manju’s inside the house as it was dawn and a few people had come out on the roads.