Key accused arrested in Amethi murder case in which four of family were shot dead

The accused, Chandan Verma, had posted a WhatsApp message stating that "five people will die, I will show you soon," indicating a plan to kill all four family members and then commit suicide, according to sources.

In Short

• Accused said in WhatsApp status "five people will die"
• Motive of murders still not clear, police probing all angles
• Four people, a couple and their two children, were shot dead in Amethi

Chandan Verma, the prime accused in the Amethi murder case, in which four of a family were shot dead on Thursday, has been arrested, police said on Friday.

The police traced Verma, taking a cue as indicated by the accused's WhatsApp status recovered by the police, officials said.

The accused, Chandan Verma, had posted a WhatsApp message stating that "five people will die, I will show you soon," indicating a plan to kill all four family members and then commit suicide, according to sources.

Police said that there were no signs of robbery and the motive behind the crime remained unclear. Superintendent of Police Anoop Kumar Singh confirmed all angles were being investigated, including a legal dispute involving Sunil.

On Thursday, a group of armed men, including the identified accused Chandan Verma, barged into the teacher's house, opened fire on all the members, and fled the scene. The victims, 35-year-old teacher Sunil, his wife Poonam (32), their daughter Drishti (6), and their one-year-old daughter, were killed in the attack.

The door of the house was opened when Verma knocked, and he fired at them with an illegal .32-bore pistol, official sources added.

A case filed by Poonam on August 18 was considered as a potential lead in the case. It was filed against Chandan Verma, accusing him of harassment, assault and threats to kill.

According to SP Anoop Singh, the earlier case was filed under the SC/ST Act. Police is also investigating those against whom the case was registered.