New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS): Four people, including a juvenile, have been arrested on charges of murdering a 27-year-old woman and her two children here in a robbery attempt that went wrong, police said on Monday.

Mohammad Akram, 21, the mastermind, and his associate Mohammad Shahid, 24, were arrested on Sunday from Raghubir Nagar in west Delhi where the murders took place on September 21.

Manjoor, 30, a driver, was caught in Aligarh and the juvenile from Loni, both in Uttar Pradesh.

Police said the accused killed Shabnam and her children at their rented flat.

"The accused were in need of money, hence they committed this ghastly crime," Deputy Commissioner of Police Pushpendra Kumar said.

"Initially, their plan was to rob the house. But due to fear that they will be identified, they killed the woman and her children," he said.

Mohammad Zafar, 28, found the bodies of his wife and children -- Imran, 8, and Khushnaseeb, 7 -- when he returned to his home from Jaipur. The couple had three other children.

According to the official, accused Akram and Zafar were known to the victims' family.

"Akram's father had solemnized Zafar's marriage with Shabnam. He was known to the family well which helped him to get entry into the house."