The wife and two young daughters of a Muslim cleric were found murdered with a sharp-edged weapon inside their home in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, police said.
Police identified the victims as Israna, 30, wife of Ibrahim, the Imam of the main mosque in Gangnauli village, Baghpat district, and their daughters Sofia, 5, and Sumaiya, 2. The bodies were discovered inside their residence, which is located within the mosque premises.
At the time of the incident, Imam Ibrahim was reportedly away on work in Deoband.
The murders were uncovered when children arriving for daily lessons at the mosque saw the bodies and raised the alarm. Superintendent of Police Suraj Kumar Rai, Additional SP Praveen Kumar Chauhan, and Circle Officer Vijay Kumar visited the scene and sent the bodies for post-mortem examination.
While authorities were removing the bodies, some villagers protested, demanding swift justice. Senior officials intervened to restore order and assured action.
Given the sensitive nature of the case, Deputy Inspector General of Meerut Range, Kalanidhi Naithani, visited the site and ordered a detailed investigation.
“We are exploring all possibilities—whether it is a family dispute, robbery, or personal enmity. Five dedicated teams have been formed, and the culprits will be arrested soon,” Naithani said.
Police said Imam Ibrahim, originally from Sunna village in Muzaffarnagar district, has been serving at Gangnauli’s Badi Masjid for the past four years. His wife, Israna, also taught children at the mosque compound.
