Tragic Tale of Love and Violence: A Father's Unthinkable Act in Kanpur
A Love Story Turned Tragic
In Kanpur, Shashiranjan Mishra and Reshma Chhetri fell in love at first sight twelve years ago, marrying against their families' wishes. However, their relationship deteriorated to the point where they could not even enter each other's rooms. Shashiranjan slept with their twin daughters in one room, while Reshma stayed with their young son in another.
The shocking news of a drug dealer brutally murdering his 11-year-old twin daughters early Sunday morning left the community in disbelief. Many are questioning how a father could commit such an atrocity, with some labeling him mentally unstable or a drug addict. The tragic end of Shashiranjan and Reshma's love story has left many astonished. The woman who once saw her entire world in Shashiranjan is now demanding the death penalty for him. They had been living separately for some time, with Shashiranjan's increasingly aggressive behavior causing Reshma to worry for their daughters' safety. She monitored them through CCTV, ensuring she could keep an eye on them.
On the night of the incident, if Reshma hadn't locked her door, Shashiranjan might have harmed her and their son as well.
The Deterioration of Their Relationship
Initially, Shashiranjan and Reshma's love blossomed, but over time, conflicts escalated, and trust eroded. They began leading isolated lives under the same roof. Shashiranjan moved into a room with their twin daughters, while Reshma took their son into another room. Shashiranjan forbade Reshma from entering his space.
Shashiranjan, originally from the Pahadia area of Varanasi, had his family settle in Gaya, Bihar, where his father worked as an accountant. After moving to Kanpur in 2011, he met Reshma, who worked at a nearby salon. They married in 2014 without family approval, but soon after, Shashiranjan's addiction to drugs led to frequent arguments.
Reshma's Struggles
Reshma recounted that Shashiranjan would often become violent while under the influence. After the birth of their daughters and later their son, she left for her parents' home for nine months due to his behavior. Upon returning, their relationship had deteriorated further. Reshma stated that Shashiranjan restricted her access to their daughters and even their shared bathroom.
To ensure her daughters' safety, Reshma would stay awake at night, monitoring them through CCTV. On the night of the tragedy, she noticed Shashiranjan taking one of the girls to the bathroom around 2 AM. When he returned, she felt uneasy and quietly listened at the door before eventually going back to sleep. It was later that the police knocked on her door, revealing the horrific scene.
The Night of the Incident
As Shashiranjan's behavior became increasingly erratic, Reshma feared for their safety. He forbade her from entering his room, prompting her to sleep separately with their son, always locking the door. During police questioning, Shashiranjan claimed that if Reshma had been awake, he would have killed her too. Reshma revealed that after the death of Shashiranjan's mother in February 2024, he began speaking irrationally, expressing a desire to join her in death along with their daughters.
When questioned by the police, Shashiranjan provided vague answers about his motives, initially stating that he killed his daughters because their deaths were 'inevitable.' He later mentioned financial stress as a reason for his actions.
The Aftermath
The autopsy revealed that the twin girls died from strangulation and severe damage to their windpipes. The brutality of the act shocked even the medical professionals involved, who questioned how a father could commit such a heinous crime against his own children.
Mental health experts noted that prolonged use of sleeping pills can lead to severe psychological issues, making individuals more susceptible to harmful thoughts and actions.