Father drugs, strangles twin daughters before slitting their throats

 

By Sumesh Rajan | April 20, 2026

Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA: A 48-year-old man allegedly killed his 11-year-old twin daughters by first drugging, strangling and then slitting their throats inside his apartment in Kanpur's Kidwai Nagar area, police said on Sunday April 19.

The accused, identified as Shashi Ranjan Mishra, was arrested from his residence at Trimoorti Apartment in the Naubasta area soon after the incident.

According to police, Mishra, a medical representative by profession, allegedly mixed sleeping pills into the children's food before attacking them while they were asleep. Investigators said he first strangled one daughter around 1.50 am and later killed the second child at around 3.35 am. After strangling the girls, he allegedly used a cleaver to slit their throats.

Police said Mishra had purchased the weapon nearly five days before the murders and had hidden it inside a cupboard at home.

The twin girls lived with their parents and six-year-old brother in the apartment. Their mother, Reshma Chhetri, told police that her husband had been mentally disturbed since the death of his mother and often spoke about dying along with the children.

She alleged that Mishra was violent, frequently assaulted her under the influence of alcohol, consumed sleeping pills and remained excessively suspicious. According to her, he had installed CCTV cameras throughout the house and restricted her access to the room where he slept with the daughters.

Reshma said the night of the murders appeared normal. The family had dinner together before Mishra took the girls into his room. Later, while monitoring the CCTV feed, she reportedly saw him take one of the daughters to the washroom around 2.30 am before switching off the lights.

By morning, both girls were found dead.

Commissioner of Police Raghubir Lal said police received a call about the murders around 4.30 am. When officers reached the flat, they found both girls lying in a pool of blood, while the accused was present inside the house.

"The father himself alerted the police about the incident. Prima facie, he appears to be mentally disturbed. Further investigation is underway," Lal said.

Forensic teams and a sniffer dog unit were called to the scene, while the bodies were sent for post-mortem examination.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Deependra Nath Chaudhary said preliminary findings suggest the girls were attacked while asleep, although the motive remains unclear.

During questioning, Mishra reportedly confessed to the murders and claimed he was anxious about his daughters' future. Police said he showed no remorse and admitted that he did not want to live long.

Investigators are also probing possible depression, psychological distress and financial strain as factors behind the crime. Some medicines and intoxicating substances were recovered from the house.

An FIR has been registered at Naubasta Police Station on the complaint filed by Reshma.

Demanding the harshest punishment for her husband, Reshma said he "does not deserve to live" after brutally killing their daughters.