E-Rickshaw Driver Allegedly Murders 12-Year-Old Stepson in Northeast Delhi
In a shocking incident that has sent shockwaves through the capital, an e-rickshaw driver has been accused of brutally murdering his 12-year-old stepson and callously dumping the body in a forested area near the Shastri Park flyover loop in northeast Delhi. According to police statements released on Friday, the violent crime unfolded against the backdrop of escalating marital discord between the accused and the victim's mother.
Marital Discord Precedes Tragic Incident
The tragic sequence of events began when the boy's mother, reportedly facing persistent marital problems with her second husband, left the family home approximately five days prior to the incident. She took refuge with her sister, leaving her two younger sons—aged 15 and 12—at the marital residence. Police sources indicate that the e-rickshaw driver, whom she had married in 2020 following the death of her first husband in 2019, made repeated attempts to persuade her to return, all of which she refused.
Detailed Account of the Alleged Crime
Investigators have pieced together a chilling timeline of the alleged murder. On Thursday evening around 6 pm, the stepfather picked up the two boys from a government school in the Shastri Park area using his e-rickshaw. He then drove them toward a secluded, forested stretch near the flyover loop. Upon reaching a traffic signal, he instructed the 15-year-old to remain in the vehicle while he took the younger boy with him under the pretext of some work.
What followed was an act of extreme brutality. The man allegedly led the 12-year-old deeper into the forested area, where he proceeded to assault the child with stones and sticks. The violent attack resulted in severe injuries to the boy's face and eyes. Approximately an hour later, the stepfather returned alone to the waiting teenager. When questioned about his younger brother's whereabouts, he falsely claimed that the boy had already returned home and told the older child to leave as well.
Gruesome Discovery and Police Response
The horror continued into the next morning. Around 7 am on Friday, the accused allegedly called his wife and coldly informed her that he had killed her youngest child. He reportedly provided the location where he had disposed of the body and, in a particularly cruel twist, sent her a video showing her son's lifeless body with the chilling message: "Take your boy away." Police are currently working to verify this specific claim.
Authorities at the Shastri Park police station received information about the murder around 9:50 am. A police team immediately rushed to the indicated spot near the flyover loop, where they discovered the boy's body lying in the forest. The victim was swiftly transported to JPC Hospital, where doctors confirmed he was already deceased.
Ongoing Investigation and Legal Action
In response to this heinous crime, the Delhi Police have registered a case under Section 103 (Murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Forensic teams have conducted a thorough inspection of the crime scene, collecting crucial evidence to aid the investigation. Multiple police teams have been deployed in an intensive effort to trace and apprehend the e-rickshaw driver, who is currently on the run.
The victim's family, already grappling with loss, now faces unimaginable grief. The mother had four children in total: an eldest daughter who is married, a 24-year-old son, and the two younger boys. The 12-year-old victim was a student in Class VII, and his 15-year-old brother was in Class IX. This tragic incident highlights severe domestic issues and has raised serious questions about child safety and intervention in familial conflicts.
