Unnao: On February 17, three girls aged 13, 16 and 17 were found unconscious in their field in a village in the Unnao district.
Following this, the Uttar Pradesh Police apprehended the main accused identified as Vinay alias Lambu and have confessed to having poisoned the three girls.
As per his confession, the police stated that the reason behind the killings was Vinay's one-sided attraction for the girl who is battling for her life at a Kanpur hospital.
It is to be mentioned that Vinay wanted to poison the victim who is currently battling for her life in a Kanpur hospital, however, the two others also ended up consuming the pesticide-laden water.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, Laxmi Singh said Vinay was a resident of an adjacent village (Pathakpur) who became friends with the three girls during the lockdown.
The trio used to meet in the fields and spend time together, eating and talking to each other. The police further said that Vinay's farm is adjacent to the field owned by the girls' family.
Meanwhile, the family of the victims welcomed the arrest but demanded the accused to be hanged and suffer the way their daughters did.
Reportdly, Vinay mixed pesticides in the water bottle and took it along with some snacks, to meet the girls in the field.
Further, the girls had also bought some food/snacks and together the trio went to the field to meet Vinay.
Vinay offered the water to the girl he loved, not expecting the other two would share it. Once the girl drank the pesticide-laced water, her sisters snatched the bottle and drank from it.
Shortly afterwards, the girls collapsed and foam started coming out from their mouths. Watching the three girls struggling to survive, Vinay and a minor who was part of the crime soon fled the spot.
Earlier, IG Lucknow, Laxmi Singh, and senior police officers were also on the spot. The crime scene has been sealed for forensic experts. The sniffer dog squads have also been called to the spot.
Family members of the girls have alleged murder. A family member said, "Why would the girls tie their own hands and feet if they were committing suicide? It is a clear case of murder."