A horrific incident has come to light from Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh, where a father threw his six-year-old son into the surging currents of the Ravi River following a heated phone argument with his wife. The tragic occurrence took place late Monday night near Parel bridge along the Chamba-Pathankot highway. Hours after taking the extreme step, the accused himself dialed the police emergency helpline 112 on Tuesday morning to report the act, prompting law enforcement to initiate an immediate response.
Phone Altercation Triggers Fatal Step
According to police details, the 30-year-old accused, Hitesh Kumar, son of Jaipal, belongs to Dabhui village under the Kiyani Post Office. He had been residing in a rented room in Parel for approximately one year. Around 8 PM on Monday night, Hitesh engaged in a phone call with his wife, during which a sharp argument broke out between them. His wife has been staying at her parental house in Amritsar for about a month along with their three-and-a-half-year-old younger son. Meanwhile, their elder six-year-old son, Gagandeep, was staying with Hitesh in Parel. Provoked by the phone altercation, Hitesh brought young Gagandeep to Parel bridge and hurled him into the river below.
Self-Reported Confession Leads to Arrest
After committing the crime on Monday night, the accused returned to his room. On Tuesday morning, he placed a call to the emergency helpline number 112 and stated that he had thrown his son into the river. Police personnel initially met the call with suspicion, considering it potentially misleading. However, when a police team arrived at his rented quarters to verify the claim, the child was found missing. Realizing the gravity of the situation, officers took Hitesh into custody immediately.
Joint Search Operation by Police and NDRF
Following the disclosure, a police team headed by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Chamba Dinesh Sharma reached the scene. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were deployed alongside police personnel to search the swollen waters of the Ravi River. Search parties are scouring the banks and downstream areas. Superintendent of Police (SP) Chamba Vijay Saklani stated that the accused was apprehended following the helpline call, and joint search efforts remain active to trace the missing boy.
Background of Accused and Ongoing Investigation
Preliminary inquiries revealed that Hitesh was previously employed at a private firm in Baddi, but was currently engaged in daily wage labor. As part of the ongoing investigation, police have seized the wife's mobile phone and are examining call details. Investigators are working to ascertain the precise nature of the discussion between the couple that led the father to take such an extreme action against his child.
Similar Incident Reported from Maharashtra
In a parallel incident involving domestic distress, a father in Maharashtra's Chandrapur district attacked his two young sons with a blade in Durgapur. The attack resulted in the death of seven-year-old Devansh, while his twelve-year-old brother, Sushant, sustained severe injuries and remains hospitalized in critical condition.
