A Dalit family of four was allegedly shot dead at their rented home in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi on Thursdaypampawerte, a month after they lodged an FIR against a man saying that if anything happened to them, then he would be responsible for it.

The accused Chandan Verma confessed to the crime on Friday. The police said the shooting was a fallout of an "illicit relationship gone sour," indicating tension between the deceased teacher's wife and the accused as the he had an affair with her for 18 months.

“Verma has confessed to killing the family. He said that he had been having an affair with Poonam for the last 18 months. However, some disturbance occurred in the relationship, which caused him stress…It appears that he reached the house of the victim and got enraged due to some reason, after which he began shooting the family members, killing all of them,” the police said during a media address.

The accused was reportedly injured in police firing while he tried to escape from custody. "On the basis of interrogation, the accused was being taken to locate the pistol used in the killing. He snatched the pistol from Sub-Inspector Madan Kumar and opened fire on the police party. The police party retaliated in which the accused was shot in his right leg. He has been admitted to hospital and further investigations are underway," Additional SP, Harendra Kumar said.

The deceased were identified as 35-year-old Sunil -- a native of Rae Bareli working as a teacher at a government school in Amethi's Panhauna -- his 32-year-old wife Poonam, and two daughters -- 6-year-old Drishti and a one-year-old.

During initial probe, police found that an FIR against one Chandan Verma was registered by Poonam in Rae Bareli on August 18. The case was filed under the Scheduled Case and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and for eve-teasing, the SP said.

Poonam had mentioned in her complaint that "if anything happens to her or her family", then Verma should be held responsible. Singh, however, said that it is yet to ascertained whether the murders are related to the FIR.

"Poonam was my daughter. He (Chandan Verma) should be killed... if he stays alive my younger son Bhanu Pratap's life will be in danger. He (Chandan Verma) is looking for my son," Ponnam's mother told news agency PTI.

Situated around 60 kilometers from the district headquarters, the crime scene saw the presence of District Magistrate Nisha Anant, SP Anoop Singh, and other officials of the police and education departments. In addition, senior officials from Lucknow were also rushed to Amethi.

The neighbours of the family heard a loud gunshot and rushed towards their house, only to find all four of them dead on the back side of the house.

Several teams have been formed by the police, with those of Local Intelligence Unit and Special Operation Groups being asked to assist in the investigation, officials noted.

"We are scanning the CCTV footage of cameras in the area as part of an effort to identify the assailants," an officer added.

Also present at the crime scene was Inspector General of Police Praveen Kumar, who told reporters that it appeared that the assailants were known to the deceased family. "It has been revealed in our preliminary forensic investigation of the crime scene that there is no sign of forced entry. Prima facie it appears that the assailants may have been known to the victim family," Kumar said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the incident. Taking to X, he wrote in Hindi, "The incident that happened in Amethi district today is highly condemnable and unforgivable. My condolences are with the bereaved families. In this hour of grief, UP government stands with the victim's family. The culprits of this incident will not be spared at any cost, strict legal action will be taken against them."

Samajwadi Party chief and former CM Akhilesh Yadav also reacted to the incident and raised questions over the law and order situation in the state in a cryptic post on the microblogging site X.

"Koi Hai? Kahin Hai? (Is anyone there? Is anyone anywhere?)", he wrote in his post while sharing a news clip of the incident.

Amethi MP and Congress leader Kishori Lal Sharma also slammed the BJP-led government in the state over the murders. "In Shivratanganj area of Amethi, miscreants barged into a house and brutally shot dead Sunil Kumar, assistant teacher in a composite school, his wife and two children. The savage criminals killed the entire family," Sharma posted on X.

He further wrote, "Hearing about this heart-rending incident sent shivers down the spine. The entire Amethi family is as upset as they are angry. This mass murder is the result of the government's ruined law and order situation. The criminals are fearless. The police administration should immediately arrest the criminals and give them the harshest punishment."

An anguished Ram Gopal, father of Sunil, said that the killer must meet the same fate as his family.

The brutal murder of the Dalit family at their home in Ahorwa Bhawani area has sparked massive outrage in the state and against the government.

"The way my son has gone, they (killers) should go the same way," Ram Gopal said, adding that, "With my son gone, I am left with no one to take care of the house."

Sunil was the sole breadwinner of the family. His father said, "I am over 60-years-old and I have one more son, who lives separately. If he can get a job, it would be good."

Ram Gopal said that he does not know who Chandan Verma is or if he is responsible for the killings. "I am a Harijan and I don't know what case he is," the father told reporters.

However, Ram Gopal recalled that his daughter-in-law had once told him that she lodged a complaint against Verma. "Had any action been taken then, this would not have happened today," he added.

Amethi MP Kishori Lal Sharma visited Rae Bareli at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's behest and arranged a call phone between him and Ram Gopal.

Meanwhile, Sharma said that he had been in touch with Sunil's father since yesterday. "I have spoken to the DM of Amethi and asked him to probe the case from all angles. Let the police investigation get completed."

"The government keeps patting its back, claiming good law and order, but if that is the case, why such incidents are happening?" he asked.

Sharma said that he had informed Rahul Gandhi about the incident and the following situation, adding that the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition asked him to reach the village.

"The incident happened in my constituency and the victims were natives of Rahul ji's parliamentary constituency. Both constituencies are associated with the Gandhi family. He directed me to come here and I am herepampawerte," Sharma told reporters.

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