Tragedy Strikes Rural Gujarat

In a grim case highlighting the deadly grip of superstition, a 10-year-old boy was allegedly beaten to death by his father in Vinchiya village, near Gujarat's Sanand city. The motive, according to local law enforcement, was a desperate attempt by the father to permanently end a generations-old family tradition of serving as a bhuvo, or local spirit medium.

The accused, 37-year-old Naresh, worked as a local farm labourer and had inherited the role from his own father. However, burdened by the legacy, Naresh reportedly decided that the occult practice must end with him, leading to the horrific decision to target his young son, Karan.

The Brutal Assault

According to the preliminary police investigation, the incident unfolded on the evening of November 1. Around 7:00 pm, neighborhood residents reported hearing agonizing screams emanating from near the family residence and the local Jogani Mata deity's altar.

When local authorities and family members arrived at the scene hours later, at approximately 9:30 pm, they confronted a devastating crime scene. Young Karan lay lifeless on a cot, having suffered severe head trauma. In a chilling detail noted by investigators, the accused father was found sleeping peacefully on an adjacent cot, his clothes still stained with his son's blood.

Investigators established that Naresh had grabbed the child by his legs and slammed him repeatedly against the concrete altar of the household deity before delivering fatal blows with a stick.

Swift Police Action and Ongoing Investigation

At the time of the tragedy, the boy's mother, Bharatiben, was away at her parental home following a domestic dispute. She had left Karan behind temporarily to ensure his ongoing school exams were not disrupted.

Following Bharatiben's formal complaint, the Sanand police acted swiftly, apprehending the accused within hours of the report. A formal murder case has been registered under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Authorities have secured vital physical evidence for forensic analysis at a state laboratory. Furthermore, police officials confirmed that a comprehensive psychological evaluation of the accused is planned to better understand the mental state and extreme delusions that drove him to commit patricide.