Daijiworld Media Network - Ghaziabad

Ghaziabad, Nov 12: A 26-year-old man was arrested on Thursday for allegedly strangling his nine-month-old son to death while the child's mother was away at work, police said.

The child's 24-year-old mother approached the police on Tuesday, alleging that her husband had killed the infant on Monday morning when she was at work between 7.30 am and 10.30 am. Following her complaint, police exhumed the child's body and ordered a post-mortem examination.

An FIR under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), pertaining to murder, was registered after the autopsy report confirmed that the child had died of strangulation on Wednesday, an officer said.

The couple got married in 2022. The woman worked as a cook, while her husband was unemployed.

According to the mother's statement, when she returned from work, her husband told her that the child was sleeping. About an hour later, when she tried to wake him, she found that he was unresponsive.

"Later, her husband, along with locals, allegedly buried the body while claiming it as a case of natural death. The woman, who had spotted some marks on the child's throat, approached the police on Tuesday," Wave City Station House Officer Shailender Singh said.

The officer added that sections relating to concealment of a crime could also be invoked after the police recorded the mother's statement.

Assistant Commissioner of Police for Wave City Circle Priyashri Pal said the accused had told investigators that he suspected his wife of having an extramarital relationship because she went out to work. He also allegedly questioned the child's paternity.

According to the ACP, the man had assaulted his wife and the couple had quarrelled several times recently. Local residents also informed the police about disputes between the couple.