Lucknow: Chandan Verma (26), accused of murdering a Dalit schoolteacher, his wife and the couple's two daughters in Amethi on Oct 3, was injured in an encounter with police in the district where he was taken on Saturday for recovery of murder weapon. Amethi additional SP Harendra Kumar said that Chandan is out of danger and undergoing treatment at a local CHC. "During the operation of weapon recovery, Chandan grabbed a pistol from sub-inspector Madan Kumar Singh and opened fire at him.
In response, the police fired in self-defence, hitting Chandan in the right leg. Following the incident, Chandan was admitted to Amethi's Tiloi community health centre for treatment," said Kumar. Chandan, according to police, was arrested by UP STF near Jewar toll plaza in Gautam Buddh Nagar late on Friday.
Police said that Chandan was planning to flee to Delhi and then to Nepal, choosing a route to avoid UP police getting a whiff of his movement. Chandan told the police that he was in love with the teacher's wife, Poonam Bharti . "During interrogation, he revealed that he was frustrated with the case registered by Poonam against him," police said.
"He tried to persuade the family to drop the case, but it had no impact. Failing in his efforts, he planned to eliminate the family. He also contacted one Annu, possibly from Rae Bareli, and asked for a country-made pistol on Sep 20.
A .32 bore pistol was purchased by him along with 10 cartridges," said the police. Chandan told police that he fired 10.