BH CORRESPONDENT, Kolkata: An man has been accused of killing a five-year-old boy by slitting his neck with a knife for just Rs 2,000! The tragic incident took place on Monday afternoon at Bankra Bazar in Howrah near Kolkata.
The boy has been identified as Mohammed Ibran, a KG student of a local school. The alleged killer, Mohammad Selim, worked in a bangle factory at Baltikuri owned by the father, Mohammad Istiqar, of the murdered boy. He stays in Pilkhana in North Howrah and is now absconding.
Soon after the murder, angry locals blocked the main road in protest. A large police force was sent to clear the busy road.
The bangle factory owned by Istiqar had fallen on bad times and he could pay his employees regularly. Selim was pressuring the owner to clear his Rs 2,000 dues.
Sabina Khatun, wife of the murdered boy, said that Selim had come to their house for the money in the morning. He was asked to come in the afternoon. But he returned again at noon. Sabina said, “That time we were having lunch and asked him come back later. But he started threatening us that if we didn’t pay the money immediately, he would teach us a lesson.”
Sabina said that soon after he heard his son screaming. When they went inside, they found their kid bleeding from the neck. “When we ran out with the boy to take him to the hospital, Selim ran away. We took Ibran to Howrah District Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.”
Raj Mukherjee, DC (South) of Howrah Police said, “We have received complaints from the child’s family. An investigation has been launched. However, the accused could not be arrested till night. We are investigating if there are any other reasons behind the incident.”
