The horrifying murder of a Dalit family in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, has sent shockwaves through the state. A government school teacher, Chandan Verma, his wife Poonam, and their two daughters, Drishti and Suni, were brutally shot dead on October 3rd in the Ahorwa Bhawani area. The accused, Chandan Verma, a resident of Raebareli, has confessed to the crime. He claimed to have reached the victim’s house on Thursday, where a heated argument escalated, leading him to shoot all four family members.
Verma admitted to having an 18-month affair with Poonam, which had soured, leading to stress and ultimately the killings. The police investigation revealed a disturbing pattern of harassment. Poonam had filed an FIR against Verma in Rae Bareli on August 18th for eve-teasing and under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. In her complaint, she had warned that Verma should be held responsible if anything happened to her or her family.
The accused was arrested and presented in court on Saturday evening, where he was remanded to jail. Verma, who reportedly attempted suicide after the murders, was moved to the district jail on Sunday. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met with the family members of the deceased, offering condolences and promising strict action against the perpetrator.
The gruesome incident has ignited widespread condemnation, with opposition parties criticizing the BJP government’s handling of law and order in the state. The family of the victims has accused the police of inaction, claiming that if the authorities had taken action against Verma after Poonam’s initial complaint, this tragedy could have been avoided. This horrific crime serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges of violence against women and the importance of addressing harassment and ensuring justice for victims.
