LUDHIANA YOUTH BLUDGEONS MINOR COUSIN TO DEATH

LUDHIANA: A 23-year-old man allegedly bludgeoned to death his eight-year-old cousin and burnt the minor’s face in Ludhiana, police said on Friday, a crime suspected to be the result of a land dispute between two families. The body of the minor was found in a vacant plot in the Ashok Nagar locality on Thursday evening.

The accused, identified as Vicky, aka Rahul, and the victim were related through their mothers, who are sisters.

Vicky – who is absconding — is also suspected of sodomising the minor before using a brick to bludgeon the minor. He then allegedly poured petrol on the boy’s face and set it on fire to conceal the victim’s identity. A blood-streaked brick and an empty bottle was found at the spot, said Amandeep Singh Brar, the Salem Tabri station house officer (SHO).

The minor’s family started making inquiries when he did not return home on Wednesday evening. His father, who runs a photo studio, said the boy’s friends told him Vicky had taken him for a bike ride. When the Class-2 student didn’t return till Thursday morning, the family again started looking for him and even contacted the police.

Police said the body was spotted by a factory worker, who had gone to the plot to dump garbage.The mother identified his body, following which cops raided Vicky’s house but he had fled. A case of murder was registered against him.

Angry relatives of the minor also nabbed two suspected aides, including a woman, and handed them over to police. The victim’s aunt alleged the police released them without questioning and detained them only after a protest. The SHO rubbished the allegations and said the two suspects are being quizzed. He said the boy’s kin tried to thrash the duo in police custody, but were stopped by the cops.