Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow

Lucknow, Aug 20: A shocking triple death incident, involving the killing of an estranged wife and a sister followed by suicide, was reported in Lucknow's Gomti Nagar area on Thursday, leaving residents in shock.

According to police and media reports, Manas Vajpayee, an employee of the State Bank of India (SBI), allegedly shot his wife Divya Mishra outside the ICICI Bank branch where she worked as a relationship manager. The incident reportedly occurred around noon.

Police said Vajpayee had called Divya outside the bank and spoke to her for a few minutes before allegedly shooting her. She was rushed to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, where doctors declared her dead. Police subsequently sent her body for post-mortem examination.

After shooting his wife, Vajpayee allegedly returned to his residence, where he shot his 28-year-old sister Shiva Vajpayee. He then turned the firearm on himself and died by suicide, police said. A pistol was reportedly found on his chest when police entered the house.

The incident came to light after Vajpayee allegedly posted a WhatsApp status referring to the killings. In the status, he accused his wife of cheating on him and indicated that he would also kill his sister before taking his own life. Police are examining the message as part of the investigation.

Divya and Vajpayee had been married for around 12 years but had reportedly been living separately for more than a year. Reports said Divya had filed for divorce last year. Police are investigating whether the marital dispute was a factor behind the killings.

Following the shooting outside the bank, senior police officers and forensic teams reached the spot and began collecting evidence. Investigators are also examining CCTV footage from the area to reconstruct the sequence of events and determine how Vajpayee travelled between the bank and his residence.

A neighbour, identified as Ankur, reportedly described Vajpayee as sociable and said the couple had been living separately for about a year and a half. The neighbour also said police had to break open the door of the residence after checking the WhatsApp status, following which the bodies of the siblings were found inside.

Divya's sister had also posted on Instagram that Divya had been shot and admitted to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, seeking prayers for her recovery. Lucknow Police responded that senior officials were at the spot and that necessary legal action was being taken.

The incident has caused panic in the upscale Gomti Nagar locality. Police have begun a detailed investigation into the killings, including the alleged family dispute, the WhatsApp message, CCTV footage and other evidence gathered from both crime scenes.