A man accused of killing three people within 26 hours in the Varanasi and Chandauli areas was killed in a police encounter, officials said. Local residents had begun referring to the accused as a “psycho killer.” He was reportedly a retired army personnel who described himself as the “king of the mind” after carrying out the crimes.
The three murders in quick succession had created fear in the area. Villagers were reportedly staying indoors after evening hours, while police faced pressure to arrest the accused quickly.
According to police officials, a cordon operation was launched after the accused’s location was identified. During the operation, he allegedly attempted to flee and attacked police personnel. He was injured in retaliatory action and later declared dead by doctors after being taken to a hospital.
Chandauli Police said the accused displayed mentally abnormal behaviour. During questioning and investigation, officials found that he considered himself different from and more powerful than others.
Police said the accused allegedly killed three people at different locations within a short span of time. The manner of the killings was described as brutal, leading to fear among residents.
Local residents said the accused had been living in the village after retiring from the army. Initially, no suspicion was directed at him, but his name emerged following the successive killings.
Questions have recently been raised over law and order in Uttar Pradesh amid increasing criminal incidents. Police, however, said swift action is being taken in serious cases.
Heavy police deployment was made in the area after the encounter. Officials appealed to residents not to pay attention to rumours.
The incident has also become a topic of discussion on social media. While many users supported the police action, others demanded an impartial investigation into the case.
Chandauli Police is continuing its investigation into the accused’s previous record, mental condition, and the motive behind the killings.
Experts said individuals with severe mental instability and violent tendencies can sometimes commit dangerous crimes suddenly. They said early identification and treatment are considered important in such cases.
Authorities are currently attempting to normalise the situation in the area, while residents remain fearful following the series of killings.
