Man shot dead after taking 20 people hostage during fake birthday party for daughter

A man who was holding more than 20 women and children hostage in his house has been shot dead by police, after a tense 10-hour stand off.

Subhash Batham had claimed that he was holding a birthday party for his daughter in a bid to lure them into his home.

He then held the 23 women and children at gunpoint in the village of Farrukhabad in Uttar Pradesh, India.

After seven hours he handed a six-month-old girl to a neighbour from a balcony, but refused to let the rest go.

Batham, who was accused of murder, was out on bail when the incident took place, principal secretary home Awanish Kumar Awasthi said.

Local reporter Deepak Kumar Srivastava told the BBC that residents spent the night in terror.

"There was fear in the neighbourhood and nobody slept. Everybody was worried about the safety of children," he said.

"The police tried to convince him to surrender for several hours. They called special forces when their attempt failed.

"He believed that locals were responsible for his arrest in the murder case and he wanted to take revenge."

Two policemen and a villager were injured in the rescue operation.

All of the children, aged between six months and 15 years were brought to safety.

"On learning that he had firing capabilities and after his bomb-threats, all senior police officials decided to attack him," said Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Om Prakash Singh.

"We tried entering the house, Subhash was killed during the encounter."

Following the raid angry villagers stormed the Batham's home and attacked his wife.

Police say she was attacked with bricks and stones.

She was taken to hospital with serious head injuries, but she died this morning.