Lucknow: Just 10 metres separate the homes of the Tiwari and Shukla families in Saadatganj. For decades, the two households shared a close bond, with locals recalling how the Tiwaris once helped the less affluent Shuklas establish themselves. Today, that relationship has ended in a tragedy that has left the neighbourhood stunned.Three members of the Tiwari family were cremated on Tuesday amid tight security and scenes of grief, a day after a deadly shooting allegedly triggered by a parking dispute and escalating tensions over local influence. Deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak and BJP member Neeraj Singh also attended the funeral and shouldered one of the biers.The firing claimed the lives of retired secretariat employee Shivaji Tiwari, his businessman son Shivendra Tiwari, and another family member, Suyash Tiwari.Residents said the tragedy is particularly shocking because the families were once closely connected. “They stood by each other for years. Nobody imagined it would end like this,” said a neighbour.Adding to the heartbreak is the death of 30-year-old Shivesh Tiwari, who was preparing for his wedding. Neighbours said he and the accused, Rishabh Shukla, had grown up together and shared a childhood friendship.Locals said relations between the families had deteriorated in recent years amid repeated disputes and a growing struggle for local dominance. What began as neighbourhood tensions eventually spiralled into a violent confrontation, they added.As mourners gathered for the final rites, many struggled to comprehend how two families whose homes stand only a few steps apart and whose histories are deeply intertwined could become bitter adversaries. For residents of the area, the killings have turned a long-standing neighbourhood relationship into one of the city’s most shocking family tragedies.
