LUCKNOW: CCTV footage captured the moments when a bank clerk allegedly confronted his estranged wife, who was also a banker, outside her workplace in Lucknow’s Gomti Nagar, shot her dead and fled the spot before later killing his younger sister and himself, police said.The incident unfolded in broad daylight outside a private bank branch around 12.15pm on Thursday, triggering panic among bank employees and people in the area.The accused, identified as 37-year-old Manas Bajpayi, allegedly arrived at the bank where his 33-year-old wife, Divya Mishra, worked as a relationship manager.CCTV captures confrontation outside bankAccording to police, Manas and Divya had a brief argument outside the bank before he allegedly pulled out a pistol and opened fire at her.The sudden gunfire sparked panic at the bank and in the surrounding area, leaving people present at the scene in shock.Divya was seriously injured in the shooting and died in the attack, police said. Her colleagues later identified the attacker as her husband.DCP (East) Deeksha Sharma said Divya’s colleagues recognised the man involved in the shooting as her husband.Accused fled after shooting wifeAfter allegedly shooting Divya, Manas left the bank and headed towards his residence near Husadiya Crossing, around 3km away.Police said he reached home within minutes and allegedly shot his younger sister, 31-year-old Sheeba, before turning the gun on himself.The three deaths occurred within around 30 minutes, police said.A tenant at Manas’s residence, Luv Kush, who runs a fast-food shop on the premises, told reporters that he saw Manas rushing into the house and appearing extremely stressed.“I even asked him what was the matter since he appeared stressed. But he told me that it was nothing, just some office issue. Then he went inside,” Luv Kush said.Couple had been living separately for 3 yearsPolice said Manas and Divya had been married for around 10 years but had been living separately for the past three years. Divya had filed for divorce last year. The couple had no children.Police are also examining a WhatsApp status purportedly posted by Manas shortly after the shooting. The status allegedly claimed responsibility for Divya’s killing and referred to his intention to kill himself and his sister.Divya’s sister alleges stalking, planned attackJournalist and YouTuber Pragya Mishra, Divya’s sister, alleged that Manas had been stalking Divya before the shooting and had carried out a recce of the area around her workplace.In a post on X, Pragya said Divya had been living separately from Manas because of ongoing marital problems. She alleged that Divya reached her workplace around 9am as usual and later stepped out with a colleague to collect a cheque.Pragya further alleged that Manas followed Divya and arrived near the bank in an autorickshaw carrying two revolvers. According to her account, he opened fire near the bank gate and then allegedly struck Divya repeatedly on the face and head with the butt of a revolver before firing again.She said people nearby fled in panic during the attack and described the injuries as severe.Pragya also expressed shock over her sister’s death and said she struggled to inform their mother after learning about the shooting.Police have not issued a detailed public statement on the allegations made in Pragya’s social media post. Her claims are being made while the case remains under investigation.According to the forensic science laboratory examination, Divya was shot in the occipital part of the head, while Sheeba sustained a bullet injury to the right side of her earlobe. Manas also suffered a gunshot injury to the right side of his earlobe.Police are examining fired cartridges, bullets and other forensic evidence for ballistic clues to establish which weapon was used in each firing.
