Lachmina Devi, 55, was recovering from a hip fracture at a private hospital in Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh.

Mangroo Chaudhary, 34, a labourer, was returning home from Karnataka, where he had travelled in search of better-paying work to support his family.

Vinesh Shah, 40, a golgappa vendor, was travelling to Hardoi to attend a satsang.

All three were shot dead, in a span of 48 hours, allegedly by a former Armyman from Punjab — he was later killed in an encounter .

The families of the victims, however, are left grappling with one question — why were they killed?

The accused, Gurpreet Singh, who was killed in an encounter; a gun can be seen at at site of the incident (Express Photo).

Lachmina had suffered a hip fracture in a motorcycle accident near her home in Bhabua, Bihar, on May 4.

Story continues below this ad

Speaking to The Indian Express , her son, Bhupendra Kumar, a driver, said: “There was no good hospital back home, so a relative advised us to take my mother to Chandauli, to Jeevak Hospital… We…