PATNA: A 50-year-old man

along with his three associates allegedly shot dead his wife and step-son in their sleep after entering inside the residence at

under Phulwarisharif police station area in the state capital at around 2.30am on Tuesday.

The deceased were identified as

(45) and her son

(17). Police said woman was shot at least four times in her sleep while Fazal received three gunshot injuries. The family was living on the first floor of their three storied private house which Riyazuddin had left a month back. Seven empty cartridges of 7.65mm were recovered from spot.

Phulwarisharif SDPO

said Riyazuddin was Khurshida’s second husband whom she married in 2009 after death of first husband. Prasad said her first husband had died of natural cause.

"Khurshida had three minor sons and a 20-year-old daughter from her first marriage and a three-year-old son from Rizayuddin," Prasad said.

"The murder seems to be fallout of illicit relation of Riyazuddin with Khurshida’s daughter which she protested and property dispute between couple," SDPO said.

"Riyazuddin and his three associates had entered inside the house after which they killed the duo. However, there is no sign of forced entry through main iron-gate on ground floor and wooden gate on first floor of residence. Khurshida’s body was lying on bed on which she was sleeping while Fazal’s bullet ridden body was in drawing room," Prasad said adding forensic experts had also investigated the crime spot.

He said Khurshida’s daughter was sleeping with her on the same bed and it was highly impossible that she continued to sleep after gunshots while her brothers in another room woke up.

"Riyazuddin, her sister Nusrat, Khurshida’s daughter and another family member had been made named accused along with some unknowns in FIR lodged with Phukwarisharif police station by Khurshida’s son Fahrukh (14). He had alleged that his step father had entered inside with three others and killed the duo in which Nusrat and his sister had connived,” he said.

Prasad said a set of keys of the lock on main entrance was with Riyazuddin’s sister Nusrat living in the same house while another was with Khurshida.

“Investigations were on to know if Nusat opened the main gate while Khurshida’s daughter allowed Riyazuddin’s entry on first floor. Both were detained and quizzed,” SDPO said.

Police investigation made till now indicates Khurshida used to pressurise Riyazuddin to register the house, in which they were living, on her name.

“However, Riyazuddin used to oppose it as her sister, other family members and few tenants were also living in same house. On other hand, Riyazuddin had illicit relation with Khurshida’s eldest daughter which she used to oppose,” Prasad said.

He said mere three months back, Riyazuddin had come out of jail over a complaint lodged by Khurshida with Phulwarisharif police station for domestic violence.

“Riyazuddin had started living somewhere else since last one month instead of living at his Ishopur residence. In between, Khurshida’s eldest daughter was sent to shelter home after she denied living at residence. However, after coming out on bail, Riyazuddin took her out of shelter home and kept at a hostel. She was finally brought back at residence again by Khurshida,” he said.

Prasad also said that there was lot of tension in the family due to all these issues and Riyazuddin had threatened Khurshida several times in the past.