UP man accused of killing wife, 2 priests shot dead after 7-hour standoff

LUCKNOW: A nearly seven-hour standoff in Shambhuganj village in Azamgarh ended in a police encounter early Wednesday, with Arvind Singh (40), accused of killing his wife and two priests, being shot dead after refusing repeated appeals to surrender and holding his three children hostage inside the house.Arvind and his eight-year-old son, Shaurya alias Lakha, were critically injured during the exchange of fire and rushed to the District Hospital. Shaurya later succumbed to his injuries, while Arvind was declared dead. His daughters, Pari (10) and Saanvi (11 months), were rescued unharmed.DIG Sunil Kumar Singh said police, relatives and family members made sustained efforts through the night to convince Arvind to surrender, but he refused to release the children or step out.ADG (Varanasi Zone) Naveen Arora said negotiations continued for seven hours, with Arvind repeatedly asking police to leave and insisting the matter would be settled in the next morning.