In a shocking incident, a youth allegedly hacked three of his relatives, including his grandparents, to death with a shovel in the early hours of Friday. Police reached the scene soon after being alerted and sent the bodies for post-mortem, while the accused were arrested.

The incident took place in Motiram Adda Koiran Tola under the Jhagaha police station area.

As per reports, Ramdayal Maurya allegedly killed his grandfather Kuber Maurya (72), grandmother Draupadi Devi (70), and Kuber’s elder brother Sadhu Maurya (75) by attacking them with a shovel. The motive remains unclear, but police said Ramdayal is suspected to be mentally unstable.

Northern Superintendent of Police Jitendra Srivastava said that as soon as the police were informed, they rushed to the scene and arrested the accused. Further action is being taken based on a complaint filed by the family, he added.

According to police, Ramdayal first attacked a cow tied outside the house early Friday morning. When his grandfather Kuber tried to stop him, he became enraged. Kuber fled toward the fields, but Ramdayal chased him and struck him on the head with the shovel, killing him on the spot. Hearing the commotion, Sadhu rushed to help but was also attacked. Draupadi tried to intervene but met the same fate. After killing them, Ramdayal dragged the bodies and sat beside them. Villagers overpowered him and informed the police.

At the time of the incident, Ramdayal’s mother Kushmavati was at home, while his father Vijay Bahadur had been away since Thursday night.

Police said Sadhu Maurya was unmarried and had lived with his younger brother Kuber all his life. Kuber had two sons—Vijay Bahadur and Mewalal—but the family was already in disarray. Mewalal was recently released from jail in a molestation case, and Vijay Bahadur was frequently absent from home.

Meanwhile in Bahraich, a 10-year-old mentally challenged boy allegedly beat his one-year-old sister to death with bricks and sticks in a village in Bahraich district, police said on Friday.

The children’s grandfather, Ramanand Mishra, from Rehua Mansoor village, reported the incident to police on Thursday evening. He stated that his grandson, while playing inside the house, hit his younger sister on the face with a stick and a piece of brick, killing her on the spot.

CO DK Srivastava said that Ramgaon police have registered a case under relevant sections and sent the body for post-mortem, while further investigations are ongoing.