India: Man suffering from depression kills son, sleeps with dead body in Uttar Pradesh

A 43-year-old man has allegedly murdered his seven-year-old son and then slept with the dead body late Friday night. Police took him into custody following a complaint by his wife on Saturday. The incident happened in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

The accused was later identified as Alankar Srivastava, who lives in Kanpur with his wife Sarika, a 10-year-old son Rushank and his two daughters – Geetika and Tulika.

According to the Indian media outlets, Sarika, who is working as a government school teacher, said that Srivastava informed her around 5 am on Saturday that he had strangled their son to death. She immediately called up her relatives, who came rushing to their house. Subsequently, police were informed, and a team reached the spot.

While talking to the media, a senior police official said: “Sarika told that Alankar killed their son late on Friday night and went to sleep with the body in the drawing room. At around 5 am, her husband visited their bedroom and after waking her up and apprised her that he had killed their son and said that now no one would trouble their son, he is now taking restful sleep.”

“The family members are still in a shock and we are yet to record their statement,” he added.

One of their neighbours told the police that Alankar got depressed after he lost his job during the COVID-19 lockdown. He deeply loved his son and daughters and was always worried about their future.

Based on a complaint registered by Sarika, police have booked Srivastava for murder under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. He has confessed to having killed the child, the police officer said, adding that the body of the victim was sent for post-mortem examination. Further investigations into the case are underway.