A son who allegedly murdered his mother and four sisters in a suspected honour killing on New Year’s Eve shared a video of the shocking scene and described how he killed them, Indian media reports.
The 24-year-old man, named locally as Arshad, was arrested after the bodies were found soaked in blood at a hotel in Lucknow, where the family were staying to celebrate the new year.
In a twisted video circulating social media made after the alleged killings, Arshad claimed he had killed his family to ‘protect’ them from his family’s neighbours, who he claimed were planning on selling his sisters in Hyderabad.
He also showed the bodies, local media reports, with claims that he strangled his mother with a scarf and stuffed cloth in her mouth, before doing the same to his younger sisters and slitting their wrists.
Local media also reported that Arshad fed his family laced food and drink before fatally attacking them.
His father Badar, who is still on the run, is also suspected to have been involved in the horrific killings.
The victims have been named as Alia, nine, Alshia, 19, Aksa, 16, Rahmeen 18, and their mum Asma. Pictures purporting to show the family before the tragedy have been circulating in Indian media.
Arshad reportedly said in the video following the brutal killings: ‘Our neighbours were trying to take over our property and planned to sell my sisters in Hyderabad. I couldn’t let that happen,’ he said.
Arshad also claimed that relentless pressure and harassment from his community in Agra drove him to commit the heinous act. He also alleged that his father, Badar, assisted him in the murders, the report added.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Raveena Tyagi said: ‘Today, the bodies of five people were found in a room of Hotel Sharan Jeet.
‘The local police reached the spot, and a person named Arshad, around 24 years old, a resident of Agra, was detained.’
‘In the preliminary interrogation itself, he said that due to a family dispute, he had killed his four sisters and mother. Further interrogation is being done.’
Joint Commissioner of Police Babloo Kumar said: ‘(The) bodies of five people have been found – four girls and their mother.
‘The hotel staff said they had come here on December 30, and their brother and father were also there. The matter is being further investigated.’
‘Inquiry is also being conducted with nearby hotel staff, and any findings will be shared with the media as soon as they come to light,’ PTI quoted Babloo Kumar as saying.
‘Regarding the bodies recovered, some show signs of injuries — on the wrist of one, on the neck of another. Based on these marks, statements from witnesses and the post-mortem report, we are conducting a detailed investigation into the matter,’ he added.
Peoplesmind
