Rajkot: A 24-year-old farm labourer has been arrested for allegedly abandoning his eight-month-old son, whose decomposed body was found on May 2 in a thicket near the Brahmani river in Susvav village of Halvad taluka, Morbi.The accused, Bhaylu alias Raju Bamaniya, a native of Dahod district working in Rayasangpar village, was held by Halvad police on Tuesday.Police said the case was initially registered as an accidental death after the body was discovered. However, further investigation by police sub-inspector A B Mishra revealed that the accused had allegedly abandoned the infant on April 24 with the intention of causing his death.During the probe, statements of fellow labourers established that Raju is the father of the child, while Ranga is the mother.Investigators said the motive stemmed from a domestic dispute. Raju, who had reportedly married three times, had brought a girlfriend from Dahod, which led to a quarrel with his third wife, Ranga, whom he allegedly drove away from the worksite. He then kept the child with his girlfriend.“The child was unwell and not feeding. Raju told others he was taking the infant to his maternal uncle’s house, but instead left him in an acacia thicket near the Brahmani river,” Mishra said.The post-mortem report stated that the child died of dehydration in the intense April heat. Bruises were also found on the body.A case has been registered against the accused under Sections 105 and 93 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
