Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Feb 9: The police of Soladevanahalli station in the outskirts of the city, who launched a hunt for a two-year-old missing boy after a complaint was lodged with them, found the mortal remains of the boy inside the forest area within the limits of their station the next day. The boy had gone missing from near his home under mysterious circumstances.

The police have since taken into custody a minor boy, who is 14, living near the house of the toddler who stands killed. The police believe that the accused killed Venkatesh, son of Basavaraju, who operates a roadside eatery, by keeping the boy's throat pressed hard by placing his foot on it, exerting pressure and thus depriving supply of oxygen to the helpless boy for a prolonged period.

It is said that the boy had developed aversion for Basavaraju after he reportedly insulted his father, Eranna, who sells tea. He was seething with anger at the humiliation of his father, and was raring to take revenge, the police stated.

It is said that Venkatesh was playing near his home on Wednesday February 7 afternoon. A pigeon reared by Eranna's son flew towards the forest at that time. The boy knew that Venkatesh liked birds very much. He sought help from Venkatesh to search for the bird. Venkatesh and the teenager then went towards the forest area. It was noticed that after sometime, only the teenager returned, not the young boy. The family waited all day long, but the boy did not come back home even in late evening. Overtaken by concern and fear, Basavaraju and his family members began to frantically search for the missing toddler.

Sometime thereafter, Basavaraju learnt from a villager that he had seen his son's body lying inside the forest area. Basavaraju then filed a police complaint. In his complaint, he pointed fingers at Eranna for being the prime suspect, as there was an existing enmity between the two over an incident on February 4 due to which the two had turned bitter enemies.

The police, who took Eranna into custody, found out during the investigation that he was not present when the incident happened. As their suspicion now turned towards Eranna's son, who was present between 2 and 3 pm a the spot on Wednesday, they took him into custody for investigation. Child Welfare Committee was involved in the process. During the interrogation, the boy confessed that he was the culprit behind this inhuman act and that he was charged with the desire to avenge the insult of his father.

The boy stands shifted to the home for the boys operated by the government. Investigation is on.