VARANASI: In a joint action by Sahatwar police, special weapons and tactics (SWAT) and surveillance cell, Ganesh Prajapati and his wife, Amrita Devi, were arrested on Saturday on charges of killing his nephew, Abhishek (9), on Jan 25. To divert the attention of the family and police, Ganesh had lodged missing report for Abhishek, whose body was recovered from a dam on Jan 31. The couple confessed that Amrita was often teased by Abhishek’s mother for being childless, so the couple killed the boy.
Ballia’s ASP (north) Dinesh Kumar Shukla said Ganesh, resident of Singhi village under Sahatwar police station, lodged complaint on Jan 25 that his brother Chandan Prajapati’s son, Abhishek, who was playing near his house, had gone missing. Despite all efforts by police, the boy could not be traced. On Jan 31 evening, Abhishek’s body was found at a dam on Ghaghra river. After this development, SWAT and surveillance teams were also engaged with Sahatwar police. During collection of evidence, including call details, involvement of Ganesh and his wife became clear and both were arrested on Saturday.During interrogation, the couple confessed to murdering Abhishek and dumping his body in the river. Ganesh divulged that his brother Chandan’s wife used to taunt him and Amrita for not having a child. Upset over it, the couple made a plan as per which Ganesh took help from a local to take Abhishek on his bicycle to the Chandpur area in the name of purchasing kites. From Chandpur, Ganesh took Abhishek on his motorcycle to the Ghaghra riverbank. After hitting Abhishek on the head with a brick, he threw the body into the river and returned home. When the boy who took Abhishek up to Chandpur asked Ganesh about the boy, he threatened him with dire consequences if he told anyone about it.
