Man accused of wiping out Amethi family shot in leg

Police shot a man accused of gunning down an entire Dalit family in Amethi in his leg early on Saturday while they were recovering the pistol used in the killing.

According to police, the incident happened when Sub-Inspector Madan Kumar Singh of Shivratanganj police station was taking possession of the pistol found near a canal track.

Just when Singh was inspecting the pistol and its magazine, Chandan Verma, the accused, snatched Singh's gun from his holster and fired at him intending to kill him, the police said in a statement.

In defence, Inspector Sachchidanand Rai fired a gunshot which hit Verma in his right leg, they said.

Verma was arrested near a toll plaza in Noida on Friday night while fleeing to Delhi.

Sunil Kumar, 35, a government schoolteacher, his 32-year-old wife Poonam, and their daughters Drishti and Suni, aged six and one, were shot dead in Ahorwa Bhawani area of Amethi.

Poonam had once accused Verma of harassing her and also filed a police complaint against him.

Police have seized a country-made pistol and a black Enfield Bullet used in the crime.

Verma was sent to Tiloi Community Health Centre.