Bihar police have arrested a canteen guard for the rape and murder of a five-year-old boy in Jehanabad district India, days after the child was found with his throat slit, officials said on Sunday.
The incident took place on Monday, April 6 at a private school hostel located in the Karauna police station area. The child was initially taken to a local hospital by family members and later referred to Patna, where doctors declared him dead.
Senior police officer Aprajit Lohan said a special investigation team was constituted to probe the case, given its seriousness. During the initial enquiry, hostel operator Tarun Kumar alias Gandhi was detained for questioning and later sent to jail.
As the probe progressed, suspicion turned towards the hostel’s canteen guard, Mukesh Kumar alias Sudama, a resident of the Pali police station area. He was taken into custody and allegedly confessed to the crime during sustained interrogation, police said.
According to police, the post-mortem report confirmed that the child was sexually assaulted before being killed. CCTV footage from the hostel premises also showed the accused’s movements as suspicious around the time of the incident, further strengthening the case.
During questioning, the accused allegedly told police that he was living alone after his wife left him and was under mental stress.
He also claimed to have had strained relations with the hostel operator and said he wanted to defame the hostel and get it shut, which he cited as the motive behind the crime.
Police said these claims are being verified as part of the ongoing investigation.
SP Aprajit Lohan said police would push for a speedy trial to ensure the accused is brought to justice at the earliest.
He added that investigators are continuing to examine all angles, including forensic evidence and witness statements, to build a strong case for prosecution.
The incident triggered outrage, with the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation demanding a judicial probe.
The party said its fact-finding team found multiple serious injuries on the child’s body and raised concerns after the school was reportedly locked and students sent home before their arrival.
India Today