A businessman, his wife and son were shot dead last night outside their home in an upscale part of Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur, around 90 km from state capital Lucknow. In CCTV footage, 60-year-old Sunil Jaiswal is seen struggling as the attackers try to snatch a bag from him. Moments later, his wife and 25-year-old son rush out of their home to try and save him, but in the rapidly unfolding horror, both are shot at close range.

All three died on the spot, the police say.

Mr Jaiswal reached his house in Civil Lines around 9.30 pm and was parking his bike when he was attacked by four men in two bikes. After a struggle, he was shot. His wife tried to fight the men off but she was shot too. The son was shot as he tried to run back into the house.

A neighbour who tried to step in and help Mr Jaiswal was also shot at by the attackers but he survived the attack and called the police.

There have been no arrests so far. The police suspect it to be a case of robbery. "The people seemed to be resisting a robbery attempt," Additional Director General of Police, Abhay Kumar Prasad said. A similar robbery attempt was made on another trader a few days ago, he added.

A day-long shutdown was announced by the city's traders' association.
A week ago, a 36-year-old businessman was shot dead on the road in Allahabad.

Last month too, a man was shot dead and four women of his family were allegedly gang-raped at gunpoint on the highway near Jewar in Uttar Pradesh, around 68 km from Delhi.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has admitted to a spike in high profile incidents across the state and called them "unfortunate". But he also said his government has inherited a state of 'jungle raj' from its predecessor Samajwadi Party and that it would take some time for improvements in law and order. The Chief Minister has maintained that law and order remains a huge challenge, and a priority, for his government.

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