DEHRADUN – In a horrifying case from Dehradun, a 28-year-old woman has been arrested for the alleged murder of her four-year-old stepson. The Uttarakhand Police confirmed the arrest on Tuesday, detailing a chilling incident of domestic cruelty that resulted in the death of the young child.
A Tragic Discovery and an Inconsistent Story
The incident was reported on Monday evening when the child’s father, a local labourer, came home from work to find his son, Aarav (name changed), unconscious. According to the Patel Nagar police, the stepmother, identified as Laxmi, initially claimed the child had suddenly fallen ill and fainted while playing.
The father rushed his son to a nearby hospital, where doctors unfortunately pronounced him brought dead.
Suspicious Marks Lead to Police Investigation
While the family was processing what appeared to be a medical emergency, hospital staff noticed suspicious marks on the child’s neck. These injuries were inconsistent with the stepmother’s story of a sudden illness. Following protocol, the hospital authorities immediately alerted the Dehradun police.
“Upon receiving the information from the hospital, a team was dispatched immediately,” said a senior police official. “The initial story provided by the stepmother had several inconsistencies. The physical evidence on the child’s body did not align with her claims.”
Autopsy Confirms Murder; Stepmother Confesses
The turning point in the investigation came after the post-mortem examination. The autopsy report confirmed the cause of death as asphyxiation due to strangulation, ruling out any possibility of natural causes or an accidental death.
Armed with this forensic evidence, investigators brought the stepmother in for questioning. Police sources stated that after a sustained interrogation, Laxmi broke down and confessed to killing her stepson.
Motive Revealed: A Case of Deep-Seated Resentment
During her confession, Laxmi revealed that her motive was rooted in deep-seated resentment towards the child. She allegedly told police she saw her stepson as an “obstacle” and a constant reminder of her husband’s first marriage. She felt the child was a burden and, in a fit of rage on Monday, she allegedly strangled him while they were alone.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dehradun, Ajai Singh, addressed the media on the case. “It is a heartbreaking case. The accused has been arrested under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code. She has confessed to the crime, citing her animosity towards the child. We will ensure that justice is served.”
The child’s father is reportedly in a state of profound shock and grief. The incident has left the local community horrified, highlighting the critical issue of child safety within the home.
