Kolkata, 07 March (H.S.): A shocking incident has come to light in East Burdwan district of West Bengal, where a man has been arrested for allegedly strangling his specially-abled son to death and burying the body near a pond.

According to a statement issued by the police on Saturday, the incident occurred in Mandal village under the Memari police station area in Purba Bardhaman district. The accused has been identified as Sonalal Mandi, who was arrested on Friday night.

Police said the victim, Surya Mandi, was visually impaired since birth and also had severe physical disabilities that prevented him from using his limbs normally. Due to his condition, the family reportedly faced significant difficulties in taking care of him. A few months after the child’s birth, his mother allegedly left the family.

The child was initially looked after by his maternal grandmother. After her death, the responsibility of caring for him fell on his paternal grandmother. Police said the accused father eventually began to consider the child a burden.

Local residents told the police that the accused had earlier tried to send his son to an orphanage. When those efforts failed, he allegedly planned the murder.

According to investigators, on Wednesday the accused took the child to the bank of Kaldighi pond in the Barapalashan area of Memari, where he allegedly strangled him and buried the body near the pond.

However, the following morning, the rising water level of the pond washed away the soil covering the body, exposing it. Local residents spotted the body and immediately informed the police.

After receiving the information, police reached the spot, recovered the body and sent it to the Burdwan Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem examination.

During the investigation, the accused was detained and questioned, during which he reportedly confessed to the crime. He was subsequently arrested, and a case has been registered against him. Police said further investigation into the incident is underway.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh