Relatives murder six of family

Lucknow, Apr 30 (UNI) In a gruesome incident, six members of a family were murdered by relatives in the Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh.

Police Superintendent Prakash D said three brothers of Barmeshwar Prasad Verma's elder daughter-in-law Sunita were behind the crime, which occurred late last night, as they were annoyed with his family for not allowing their sister to stay with her husband.

''The accused first mixed poison in the food and when the victims fell unconscious, they slit the veins of seven people, of which six have succumbed,'' he said.

One person is battling for life in a hospital.

Three blades and two packets of sulphas have been recovered from the spot.

The deceased have been identified as Barmeshwar's wife Subhadra (52), Ajay (30) -- husband of Sunita, Manju (32) -- daughter, Arti -- 18 (daughter), Vijay (27) -- son and Sanjay (24) -- son.

Barmeshwar is employed with the UP irrigation department and is posted in Aligarh. He was not in Ballia during the attack.

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