Brother beats elder sibling to death, attacks father and sets house ablaze in UP

LUCKNOW: A 19-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death by his younger brother in an incident of domestic violence in Gonda district on Sunday. The accused subsequently assaulted his father and set the family home on fire, resulting in the death of a buffalo and destruction of property worth several lakh rupees, police said.The incident took place in Jatmalpur village under the Wazirganj police station limits. Police have arrested the accused, identified as Akku alias Hulsi Nishad (18), and launched a detailed investigation into the case.According to police, the deceased has been identified as Ankit Nishad (19). His body was recovered from near the family home and sent for post-mortem examination.The incident came to light when villagers noticed thick smoke billowing from the house of Bhullan Nishad in the wee hours of Sunday. Alarmed residents rushed to the spot and found Bhullan lying injured on the ground outside the house.A buffalo was found dead near the residence, while Ankit's body was discovered a short distance away. Household belongings had been engulfed in the fire, causing extensive damage to the property.Police and fire response teams were informed, following which authorities reached the scene and brought the situation under control.Bhullan Nishad's family comprises five sons and a daughter. Ankit was one of the sons, while Akku alias Hulsi is the youngest among the brothers.Family members told police that Akku had allegedly been suffering from mental instability for some time. According to relatives, he frequently displayed aggressive behaviour, threw household items around, and often got into physical altercations with family members.Despite his recurring outbursts, the family had reportedly continued to live with him and largely ignored his behaviour, believing it to be manageable.Preliminary investigation suggests that the accused first attacked his elder brother Ankit with a sheesham wooden stick, repeatedly striking him and causing fatal injuries. Ankit is believed to have died on the spot.After allegedly killing his brother, Akku reportedly turned on his father, assaulting him and leaving him injured. He then allegedly set the family home on fire before fleeing or remaining at the scene, police said.The blaze destroyed household goods and other valuables worth several lakh rupees. A buffalo trapped during the incident also died, adding to the family's losses.Wazirganj Station House Officer Vipul Pandey said the accused had been taken into custody and was being questioned."Accused Akku alias Hulsi assaulted his brother Ankit with a stick, resulting in his death. He also injured his father and set the house on fire, in which a buffalo died. Police are investigating all aspects of the case and necessary legal action is being taken," Pandey said.Police are awaiting the post-mortem report to ascertain the exact cause of death. A case has been registered, and investigators are also examining the accused's mental health history as part of the probe.