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Journalism of Courage
The mutilated body of a seven-year-old boy, the nephew of BJP MLA and former state party president Bhausaheb Phundkar, has been found in Khamgaon in Buldana district.
The incident came to light on Wednesday, when Shubham’s body was found near a bush about three km from his house in a mutilated condition with the head severed. While the incident appeared to be a case of human sacrifice, police also believe that the alleged killer — Shatrughna Nimbalkar — who is now in custody, may be a paedophile.
‘‘But we are also exploring the sacrifice angle,’’ SP, Buldana, Krishnaprasad said. Arrested yesterday, Shatrughna has admitted to kidnapping the child, but not to killing him, the SP added. ‘‘He says he had left the child with an unknown person who he said was to restore the child to his parents,’’ Krishnaprasad said.
The SP said Shatrughna had earlier been accused of kidnapping a hearing impaired girl and also of torturing her. He had also tried to kidnap another child called Pratap Singh from a school, but the bid was thwarted by a gatekeeper. The accused was a construction worker at Indore and had come to Khamgaon in search of work, Krishnaprasad said.
Shubham’s father, Shrikrishna Phundkar, worked with the Khamgaon Urban Co-operative Bank.
