Lucknow Bank Shooting: SBI Employee Kills Wife and Sister, Dies By Suicide After Attack
Lucknow Bank Shooting Leaves Three Dead.
A shocking case of suspected double murder followed by suicide was reported in Lucknow on Thursday after a State Bank of India (SBI) employee allegedly shot his wife outside her workplace and later killed his sister before taking his own life, police said. The incident unfolded in the city's upscale Gomti Nagar area and prompted an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killings.
The accused, identified as Manas Vajpayee, allegedly went to an ICICI Bank branch where his wife, Divya Mishra, worked. According to eyewitness accounts shared with police, Vajpayee called his wife outside the branch around noon and spoke with her for several minutes before allegedly shooting her. He then fled from the location.
Divya was taken to a hospital following the shooting, but doctors declared her brought dead, police said. The incident outside the bank caused panic in the area as people gathered at the scene and police teams began examining the circumstances of the shooting. Investigators are expected to review CCTV footage and other evidence to establish the sequence of events.
According to the information available to police, Vajpayee and Divya had been married for around 12 years but had been living separately for more than a year. Divya had reportedly filed for divorce last year. The circumstances surrounding their separation and the ongoing legal proceedings are expected to form an important part of the investigation into the suspected killing.
After allegedly shooting his wife, Vajpayee returned to his residence, where he reportedly shot and killed his sister. He subsequently died by suicide, according to the police account. Investigators are working to establish the exact sequence of the incidents and the motive behind the killings. Before his death, Vajpayee had reportedly put up a WhatsApp status claiming that he had killed his wife and sister. Police are examining the status and other digital evidence as part of their investigation. Such material could help investigators establish what the accused intended to communicate and reconstruct events leading up to the shootings.
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The case involves three deaths and has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the couple's strained relationship. However, police have yet to establish a definitive motive. Investigators will examine the couple's reported separation, the divorce proceedings and any communications between the individuals before the shootings.
Police teams have begun collecting evidence from the ICICI Bank premises and the residence where the subsequent shootings occurred. Statements from eyewitnesses and relatives are also expected to form part of the investigation. CCTV recordings from the bank and surrounding areas could provide further information about Vajpayee's movements before and after the first shooting.
The incident has shocked residents of Gomti Nagar, one of Lucknow's prominent residential and commercial areas. The shooting outside a functioning bank branch during the day also raised immediate concerns among employees and members of the public in the vicinity. The investigation remains underway, with police seeking to piece together the events that led to the deaths of Divya, Vajpayee's sister and Vajpayee himself.
While the reported WhatsApp status and the couple's separation may provide investigators with potential leads, the precise motive and circumstances behind the suspected killings will have to be established through the ongoing investigation.
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