‘Barber accused of killing two boys had gone to their house seeking money for hospital bill’

: The man who allegedly murdered two children at their home here knew the family and had gone there seeking money for payment to a hospital where his pregnant wife was admitted, the FIR said.

Hours after the murder on Tuesday evening, the accused Sajid (22) was gunned down in an encounter with the police, IG Bareilly range RK Singh said. The police on Wednesday detained the father and uncle of the accused. The other accused, Sajid’s brother Javed, is absconding, police said.

Sajid, who had recently opened a barber shop in the locality, allegedly attacked three brothers, Ayush (12), Ahaan alias Honey (8), and Yuvraj (10), with a knife. Ayush and Ahaan died in the attack, while Yuvraj was rushed to a hospital with grievous wounds.

After the incident, Sajid’s shop was set on fire. Some other shops nearby and a motorcycle were also vandalised by local people and the boys’ family members.

The FIR, based on the complaint by the victims’ father Vinod Kumar, said Sajid and his brother Javed reached the house at around 7 pm.

Sajid told his wife that he needed Rs 5,000 to pay the hospital for the delivery of his child.

When the wife went inside to get the money, Sajid went to the rooftop of the house. Moments later, Javed also reached the rooftop and they called Ayush and Ahaan, according to the complaint. The accused attacked the minors with a sharp knife. When they came downstairs, Sangeeta saw that their clothes were drenched in blood.

The accused also attacked the third son Yuvraj who had gone upstairs to fetch some water. Yuvraj is admitted in hospital and his condition is said to be stable.

The boys’ father, who is a private contractor, was out of the district at the time of the incident. Apart from his wife Sangeeta, his mother was

present at the house. Police have also not confirmed the motive behind the incident. They

have booked both Javed and

Sajid for murder (under IPC

Section 302).