Lucknow Shocker: 'Pressured over NEET' man shoots father, hides chopped body in drum

Lucknow: In a shocking incident, a 21-year-old man from Lucknow has been arrested for allegedly shooting his father, dismembering the body, and hiding the torso in a drum at their residence. 

The accused, who is currently in police custody, has reportedly confessed that he was angry with his father for allegedly constantly pressuring him to study for NEET. Police believe this anger may have been the reason behind the alleged gruesome murder. 

According to police, the incident took place around 4:30 am on February 20 following an argument between the father and son.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Jitendra Kumar Dubey told PTI that "Prima facie, the root of the incident appears to be anger over his father repeatedly pressuring him to focus on studies and clear the NEET medical entrance examination. However, further questioning is underway and a thorough investigation is in progress."

Police said the accused allegedly shot his father and later chopped the body into pieces in an attempt to destroy evidence. The severed hands and legs were disposed of at different locations in Lucknow, while the torso was kept inside a blue drum on the ground floor of their three-storey house.

Also read- Family of deceased Patna NEET aspirant alleges threats

The crime came to light after local residents complained about a foul smell coming from the house. When police reached the spot and searched the premises, they found the torso inside the drum. The body parts were missing.

A forensic team examined the scene and collected evidence. The weapon used in the crime has also been recovered. The body was sent for post-mortem examination.

The victim was a businessman who owned four pathology centres and three liquor shops. According to family members, he was financially well-off. His brother, who was also his business partner, said he was not fully aware of any extreme academic pressure on the accused, adding that the family was financially capable of securing admission to a private medical college if required.

He said that he had called the father on the evening of February 20 but found his phone switched off. When he contacted the accused, the latter reportedly told him that his father had gone to Delhi for urgent work and would return in two days. The continued switch-off of the phones raised suspicion, and he later visited the house.

"I went to the house and inquired, but never imagined that he could be involved," he said. The victim’s brother also said he did not have the courage to see the torso when informed that it was found inside a blue drum on the ground floor of the house.

Neighbours said that on February 20, after the family claimed that the man had gone missing, some locals accompanied them to the police station. However, the student allegedly told them that he had already filed a complaint and was in touch with the police.

According to the police, the accused shot his father in front of his sister and threatened her to remain silent, as reported by TOI. His father is a retired police officer. 

As per the daily, the accused was also in charge of a liquor store run by his father and was given Rs 17,000 as a monthly salary, but he was not happy. While the motive is believed to have stemmed from the pressure to crack NEET, the exact reason is under investigation. 

Also read- Patna NEET aspirant death case: CBI conducts fresh evidence review, records statements