A mother allegedly threw her disabled six-year-old son into crocodile-infested waters, where he was mauled to death following an argument with her husband. Savitri Kumar and her husband Ravi Kumar were arrested in connection with the horrific incident in Karnataka, western India. The young man, Vinod, was born with a hearing and speech impediment, which had reportedly been a frequent source of heated arguments between his parents, according to The times of India.
Local police revealed that Ravi often blamed his wife for giving birth to a disabled child and had repeatedly suggested that she “throw the child away.” On Saturday night, after the couple had another fight over Vinod, Savitri allegedly threw the boy into a waste canal that flows into the Kali river, which is known to be infested with crocodiles. Vinod was reportedly asleep at the time.
Neighbors alerted the police, prompting a desperate search for the young man. Local volunteers and divers scoured the dangerous waters in search of Vinod, but attempts to rescue him were halted due to darkness. Recalling the horrible scene, one witness said The new Indian express“We could see one of the crocodiles holding the body in its mouth.”
The search resumed on Sunday morning and police recovered Vinod’s body from the river. Officials believe the six-year-old boy died in a crocodile attack, as his body was covered in bite marks and he was missing a hand, according to News 18. The body was sent for autopsy to confirm the cause of death.
Police have classified the incident as a “murder” case. A police officer told him The times of India“We have registered a case at Dandeli Rural Police Station under section 109 (instigation of any offence, if the act is committed as a consequence and when its punishment is not expressly prescribed) and 302 (murder) of the Penal Code of India. and arrested both the husband and wife in connection with the incident.”
Savitri reportedly blamed her husband for the tragedy, telling reporters: “My husband is responsible. He kept saying, “Let (Vinod) die,” according to CBC News. And he added: “If my husband keeps repeating those things, how much torture could my son endure? But he kept telling me repeatedly that he should let the child die.”
The couple appeared in court and has been remanded in judicial custody for 14 days, according to Hindustan Times. The police inspector confirmed that “further investigations are underway.” The couple also shares a two-year-old son.