Lucknow murder case: Lucknow woke up to a horrific incident on Wednesday in which a 24-year-old man, Arshad, allegedly murdered his mother and four sisters at a hotel. In a video recorded after the crime, Arshad claimed he acted to “protect” his family and alleged that their property in Agra was being eyed by neighbors who, he said, were also planning to sell his sisters in Hyderabad .

“Our neighbors tried to take over our property and planned to sell my sisters in Hyderabad. I couldn’t let that happen,” Arshad reportedly said in the video, which has been widely shared on social media platforms.

Also read | Lucknow: 5 family members including 2 minors found murdered in hotel; Accused arrested

The family, originally from Agra, had been staying at the hotel since December 30 and were reportedly visiting the Uttar Pradesh capital to celebrate New Year.

According to reports, Arshad served food and alcohol laced with intoxicants to his family on the fateful night. Hours later, he allegedly killed them – some by strangulation, others with a blade. The victims included his mother Asma and his sisters aged just 9, 16, 18 and 19, India Today reported.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Raveena Tyagi said, “Today, the bodies of five people were found in a room of Hotel Sharan Jeet. The local police reached the spot and a person named Arshad, aged around 24 years, a resident of Agra, was arrested.”

Raveena Tyagi said, “Today, the bodies of five people were found in a room of Hotel Sharan Jeet. The local police reached the spot and a person named Arshad, aged around 24 years, a resident of Agra, was arrested.”

“During the preliminary interrogation, he himself said that he killed his four sisters and his mother due to a family dispute. Further interrogation is being conducted,” ANI quoted DCP Tyagi as saying.

Speaking to mediapersons, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime and Headquarters) Babloo Kumar said, “The bodies of five people were found – four girls and their mother.” The hotel staff said they came here on December 30 and their brother and her father was also there. The matter remains under investigation.”

“Investigations are also being conducted on the staff of the nearby hotel and all findings will be shared with the media as they come to light,” PTI quoted Babloo Kumar as saying.

“As for the bodies recovered, some show signs of injuries – on the wrist of one, on the neck of the other. Based on these traces, statements of witnesses and the autopsy report, we are conducting a detailed investigation into the matter,” he added.

Arshad recorded a video

After killing his mother and sisters, Arshad took a video of the crime and posted it online. In the video, Arshad shows the lifeless bodies of his mother and sisters and explains how he killed them, The Times of India reported.

According to the report, Arshad visited Ajmer with his family before returning to Lucknow and checking them into the hotel. Late at night, he allegedly strangled his mother with her dupatta and stuffed a cloth in her mouth to silence her. He then used the same method on his sisters, stuffing cloth into their mouths and slashing their wrists with a blade.

Arshad claimed that the relentless pressure and harassment from his community in Agra drove him to commit the heinous act. He also claimed that his father Badar assisted him in the killings, the report added.

After Arshad committed the murders, he reportedly dropped his father off at the train station before heading to the police station to make a confession. Based on his statement, the police recovered the murder weapons, including a blade and the dupatta used in the crime.

Meanwhile, Arshad’s father remains at large. Police are reviewing surveillance camera footage from the train station to trace his whereabouts and bring him to justice.

(With inputs from PTI, ANI)