Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh: What began as a search for a missing elderly couple here has unravelled into a chilling double murder, exposing a horrifying tale of family conflict, rage, and brutal betrayal.

Police have arrested Ambesh, an engineer, for allegedly murdering his parents — Shyam Bahadur (62) and Babita (60) — inside their home, hacking their bodies into pieces with a saw and dumping the remains into a river.

A Missing Complaint Raises Alarm

The case came to light on December 13, when Ambesh’s sister Vandana approached Zafarabad police to report her parents missing. She told officers that Ambesh had called her on December 8, claiming their parents had left home after an argument and that he was searching for them. Soon after the call, Ambesh’s phone went off.

The unexplained disappearance of all three family members raised suspicion. A week later, when police tracked Ambesh down, he reportedly broke down during questioning and confessed to the crime.

Interfaith Marriage at the Heart of the Conflict

Shyam Bahadur, a retired Railway employee, and Babita had three daughters and a son. Five years ago, Ambesh married a Muslim woman — a match his parents strongly opposed. Despite the couple having two children, Shyam Bahadur allegedly refused to accept his daughter-in-law into the family home and repeatedly pressured his son to end the marriage.

Under mounting pressure, Ambesh and his wife eventually decided to separate. She demanded ₹5 lakh as alimony, which Ambesh agreed to pay.

Argument Over Money Turns Fatal

Police say Ambesh, who had been staying in Jaunpur for a few months, asked his father for financial help on December 8. When Shyam Bahadur refused, the discussion escalated into a violent confrontation.

In a fit of rage, Ambesh allegedly struck his mother, Babita, with a sil batta (grinding stone). When his father screamed for help, Ambesh attacked him as well, repeatedly hitting him on the head. Both parents died on the spot.

Bodies Chopped, Evidence Destroyed

After the killings, Ambesh attempted to dispose of the bodies. Unable to find a large bag, he allegedly used a saw from the garage to cut his parents’ bodies into six pieces. The remains were stuffed into sacks, loaded into a car, and dumped into a nearby river at dawn.

He then called his sister, spun a false story about his parents leaving home, and vanished — keeping his phone switched off for nearly six days.

Confession and Ongoing Search

Ambesh resurfaced in Jaunpur on December 14, where his evasive responses to family members triggered further suspicion. Police were alerted, and during sustained interrogation, he allegedly confessed.

Officers have since recovered a part of Shyam Bahadur’s body, along with the saw and the grinding stone used in the murders. A team of divers continues to search the river for the remaining body parts.

Additional Superintendent of Police Ayush Srivastava said further recoveries are expected soon as the investigation continues.