Aamir Ahmad (20), identified as the prime accused in the murder of Gaasiya Khaaton (35) and her four children, was killed in an encounter with Ambedkarnagar police on Monday morning. Police officials confirmed that Aamir was attempting to flee towards Nepal when a police team intercepted him. He was out on bail in a separate murder case and allegedly killed Khatoon and her children over a property dispute.
Shifting police versions
The case witnessed multiple changes in police statements over the weekend. After the children's bodies were discovered on Saturday, police initially claimed that the mother had killed them and fled. They even issued her photographs in neighboring districts to seek information. However, about 24 hours later, her body was recovered, and police stated that she had died by suicide, citing the absence of injury marks.
New evidence emerges
Superintendent of Police, Ambedkar Nagar, Prachi Singh, said that fresh leads from mobile phone data, CCTV footage, local inputs, and preliminary forensic findings suggested the presence of a male at the crime scene. Singh revealed that Aamir Ahmad, who lived approximately 400 meters from the victim's house, had been pressuring Gaasiya Khaaton to marry him with the intention of taking over her property. When she refused, he allegedly murdered her first and then her four children.
According to the SP, locals overheard an argument when Aamir visited the woman a day before the children's bodies were found, and surveillance footage corroborated his presence. He was again seen at the house on the day of the murder and later spotted riding a motorcycle. The crime scene also indicated the presence of a male.
Encounter details
Police said that Aamir went missing after the incident, and a team was formed on Sunday evening to trace him. Acting on specific inputs, he was intercepted around 5 am near the Nevteria bypass under Akbarpur Kotwali limits. When signaled to stop, he allegedly tried to turn back, skidded, and opened fire. In retaliatory firing, he sustained a bullet injury to the chest and died on the spot.
During the exchange, SOG in-charge Vinod Yadav was saved by his bulletproof jacket after it was hit by a bullet. A sub-inspector and a constable were injured and sent for treatment. A motorcycle, a country-made pistol, and empty cartridges were recovered from the spot. Aamir was named in four cases, including murder and rape.
Background of the case
On May 2, the bodies of Shafeeq (14), Saud (12), Umar (10), and Sadia (8) were recovered in a two-storey house in Meeranpur locality. The children lived with their mother, Gaasiya Khatoon. Their father, Niyaz (42), had been working in Saudi Arabia for the past four years and had not returned home during this period. Family sources stated that Niyaz had married a Pakistani woman three years ago. Gausiya had also traveled to Saudi Arabia about a year ago. On the fateful day, neighbors alerted police, who broke open the door and found the bodies of all four children lying on a bed in a ground-floor room, while their mother was missing.
