LUCKNOW, May 8 (DHNS)

Angry at his daughter eloping with a Dalit, a police sub-inspector avenged the humiliation by killing four of the latter`s family.

The armed cop, accompanied by his relatives, attacked the groom`s house on Sunday afternoon and fired indiscriminately. The incident, which has sent shockwaves in the state, took place in Baghiyapur village of Hardoi district. The chief minister has ordered a probe by the commissioner and DIG, Lucknow. The accused Ramnth Singh, a police sub- inspector posted at Faizabad, and his two brothers have been arrested.

Reports said Ramnath Singh`s young daughter, Poonam, had an affair with Brijraj, son of a Dalit Rustamlal. There was simmering tension between the two families and had come to blows many a times over the issue. Ramnath had fixed Poonam`s marriage in another family for April 16. Unwilling, Poonam and Brijraj eloped on the day of Holi and married in court in Shahjahanpur district.

Apprehending revenge from the Thakurs, Rustamlal moved out of his village to stay with his relatives in Majhreta village. He returned home on Sunday morning. The family had just settled down when Ramnath along with his two sons Ankit Singh and Pradeep Singh, armed with firearms, barged into the house and started firing. Rustam and his son Rakesh died on the spot. His brother-in- law Puttulal and cousin Vijaypal died in the hospital while two others are battling for life.