Lucknow Teen's Gruesome Patricide Over NEET Pressure Unfolds in Chilling Details
In a shocking incident that has sent ripples through Lucknow, a 19-year-old son of a local pathologist allegedly shot his father at close range and dismembered the body, with police citing pressure to prepare for the NEET medical entrance exam as a primary motive. The crime, which occurred in the early hours of February 20, involved meticulous planning and brutal execution, leaving the community in disbelief.
A Fleeting Apology and a Deep-Seated Conflict
When presented before the media at Aashiana police station on Wednesday, the accused offered a soft apology, stating, "Sorry Papa... galti se ho gaya" (I made a mistake by mistake). He repeated this line later during a medical examination at Lokbandhu Hospital, lowering his gaze when questioned about his motives. Police investigations reveal that the argument stemmed from the father's insistence that his son prepare for NEET, instead of pursuing a career as a restaurateur. Additionally, a parallel family rift related to the victim's alleged plans for a second marriage is under scrutiny, though the teen remained silent when asked if academic pressure pushed him over the edge.
Gruesome Details of the Crime and Disposal
According to SHO Chhtarpal Singh, the teen used his father's licensed .315 bore rifle to shoot him in the head at their home. In a calculated move, he then purchased a blue plastic drum via an online delivery platform and procured knives and saws through e-commerce to dismember the body. Investigators reported that he packed the severed limbs in plastic and dumped them near a canal in Nadarganj on the city outskirts, while concealing the torso inside the drum at home. To mislead authorities, the accused filed a missing person complaint at Aashiana police station on February 23.
Investigation Unravels the Plan
The plan began to unravel on February 24 when Sub-inspector Agrachari Yadav noticed the teen throwing a bag and grew suspicious of his body language. Upon questioning, the accused faltered, grew nervous, and eventually broke down, allegedly confessing to the crime and detailing the disposal of body parts. Police took him into custody that evening, leading to recoveries including the remaining body parts from the drum, severed limbs from the canal, two knives and two saws near railway tracks in Transport Nagar, a burnt woollen blanket and ashes from a forested patch in Sarojini Nagar, the rifle and cartridges, and twenty litres of kerosene suspected for use in disposal.
Medical and Legal Proceedings
Doctors confirmed the cause of death as a point-blank gunshot to the head, with a large, irregular wound extending from the nose to the back. Dismemberment occurred post-mortem, with cuts consistent with heavy, sharp tools. The victim, a 49-year-old pathologist, was cremated at Baikunth Dham on Wednesday, with his nephew performing the last rites due to the father's illness. The sole witness, the accused's minor sister and a Class XI student, allegedly saw the argument, firing, and aftermath, and was threatened into silence. Her statement is being recorded under procedures for minors and could prove decisive at trial if corroborated by forensics.
Institutional and Community Response
A private university in Lucknow, where the teen is pursuing a BBA degree, issued a statement distancing itself from the crime, calling it a personal family matter and expressing condolences. The case highlights severe issues of academic pressure and family dynamics, sparking discussions on mental health and support systems in educational environments.
