Lucknow tragedy: bank staff ends lives of wife and sister before self‑inflicted death

A grim incident unfolded in Lucknow on Tuesday when Manas Vajpayee, an employee of a state‑run bank, allegedly murdered his wife and sister before turning the gun on himself. The sequence of events was partially documented in a WhatsApp message the man sent shortly before the killings, in which he claimed his wife had been unfaithful and expressed his intent to end both their lives.

Police arrived at the residence in the city's Gomti Nagar area after neighbors reported gunshots. Investigators found the bodies of the 32‑year‑old wife and her 28‑year‑old sister, both showing multiple gunshot wounds. The deceased were identified as Priyanka Sharma and her sister Neha Sharma, both residents of the same household. Autopsy reports confirmed that the injuries were consistent with close‑range firearm discharge.

The suspect, identified as Manas Vajpayee, 35, worked as a clerk in the regional office of a nationalized bank. According to statements from colleagues, he had been a regular employee with no prior disciplinary record. However, coworkers noted that he had become increasingly withdrawn in recent weeks, though no formal complaints were lodged.

After the bodies were discovered, Vajpayee was found dead from a self‑inflicted gunshot wound in a nearby room. Forensic teams recovered the handgun, a 9mm pistol, which matched ballistic evidence from all three shootings. The police have opened a homicide investigation to verify the motive and to determine whether any additional parties were involved.

The incident has sparked concern among local authorities about mental‑health support for bank staff and the potential for domestic disputes to escalate into lethal violence. The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a review of employee assistance programs and urged families to seek counseling when faced with relationship strains. The case remains under investigation, with officials promising a full report once forensic analysis is complete.