Firozabad horror: Trader slams toddler to death after mother rejects marriage proposal

Video footage of the incident has surfaced on social media.

After a case was registered at Shikohabad police station, police launched a search for Jitendra. Late Saturday, they received information that he had been spotted near Bhura Bharthara Road and cordoned off the area.

As the police team approached him, the suspect opened fire, prompting officers to retaliate in self-defence, police said, adding the accused sustained a gunshot wound to his leg.

No police personnel were injured in the encounter.

Police said they recovered a country-made pistol and ammunition from his possession. The accused was taken to the district hospital for treatment, where doctors said his condition was stable.

Firozabad Additional Superintendent of Police Ravi Shankar Prasad said that during questioning the accused confessed that he wanted to marry the child’s mother, but she rejected his proposal, saying she already had a baby. He added the accused believed that killing the child would clear the way for the marriage.

Police said Rati had married Sumit Kumar of Badaun in February 2024 and gave birth to their son, Aarav. Bhut after marital differences, she had been living with her parents for the past five months. The accused, Jitendra, is a distant relative of her husband.

Police said Jitendra frequently visited Rati’s family and had been assisting her in her legal dispute with her husband. Police said he had proposed to her earlier, but she rejected the offer.

According to police, on Saturday Rati Devi and her mother, Pinky Devi, travelled to Shikohabad to seek legal advice from a lawyer regarding an ongoing family dispute. As their appointment was scheduled for the evening, they stayed at the home of Pinky Devi’s friend, Pushpalata, in Yadav Colony.

Police said Viraj allegedly tracked their whereabouts and reached the house and once again urged Rati to divorce her husband and marry him. When both Rati and her mother rejected the proposal, Viraj allegedly lured the 17-month-old boy out of the house.

Nearly 10 minutes later, the body was discovered by the family.