A 15-month-old male child was murdered following a verbal spat between the child’s father and his relative at Kallupatti village near Thottiyam in the district.
The accused K. Senthil, 32, was arrested on the charge of killing the male baby Nitheeswaran on a complaint lodged by the child’s father Rengar, 34, of Kallupatti.
The crime was committed on Sunday night when Rengar was carrying his son near his house.
Police sources said Senthil took ₹70 cash from the pocket of a person by name Anand of the same village apparently to consume alcohol.
Rengar who noticed this reportedly questioned Senthil for his act infuriating the latter. A verbal duel broke out between Rengar and Senthil over the issue. Sources said Senthil in a fit of rage picked up a bamboo log nearby and attempted to attack Rengar. However, the child bore the brunt of the deadly attack by Senthil and sustained severe head injury.
Rengar rushed his son to the Musiri Government Hospital from where the child was referred to the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital. The baby succumbed in the early hours on Monday. The Thottiyam Police have registered a case of murder and arrested Senthil.
