3 shot dead after row over smeared birthday cake in UP

MEERUT: A private contractor based in Bulandshahr, Jitendra Kumar, opened fire on his guests at his birthday party when they smeared cake on his face against his wishes, leaving three members of a family dead.

Kumar is on the run. The triple murder took place on Saturday night inside a gym in the district's Khurja area. Among those present were the local councillor's cousin, Amardeep Saini (32), brother Manish Saini (30), and nephew Akash Saini (19). Around 11pm, a heated argument erupted between Kumar and Amardeep over the cake being smeared. The contractor left and returned with a pistol. SP (rural) Antriksh Jain said, "Amardeep and Manish were shot from close range while Akash, who tried to escape, was chased down and shot." Before fleeing, Kumar removed the CCTV digital video recorder, police said. Cops were informed around midnight that three men had "suffered bullet wou-nds". They were declared brought dead by doctors at a nearby private hospital. "CCTV footage from other areas is being scanned. An FIR was registered against 10 people, including Kumar, under BNS sections pertaining to murder. Gym owner Rupesh Kumar and two others were arrested on Sunday," Jain said, adding "liquor bottles and beer cans were found at the spot". Manish and Amardeep were farmers, and Akash had been looking for a job. Manish is survived by a two-year-old daughter, while Amardeep leaves behind a five-year-old son and a newborn daughter.