West Bengal police have cracked a chilling case of filicide in Burdwan’s Memari area, where a man allegedly murdered his visually impaired and physically challenged young son before attempting to conceal the crime by burying him near Kaladighi Lake. The arrest of Sonalal Mandi has sent shockwaves through Mandalgram village.
Details emerging from the investigation paint a grim picture of familial despair turning deadly. Surya, the victim, was born blind with dysfunctional limbs, placing immense strain on the household. Deserted by his wife soon after the child’s birth, Mandi shuttled his son between relatives until the grandmother passed away, leaving him solely responsible.
Witness accounts reveal Mandi’s growing frustration; he reportedly sought to admit Surya to an orphanage but was rebuffed. Turning sinister, on Wednesday, he took the boy to the secluded lake shore in Barapalashan, strangled him, and interred the body under loose earth.
Fate intervened Thursday morning as swelled lake waters eroded the makeshift grave, exposing the remains. Police swiftly arrived, exhumed the body for autopsy at Burdwan Medical College, and zeroed in on Mandi. His interrogation yielded a full confession, prompting immediate arrest and case filing.
As investigations continue, this case highlights critical gaps in social welfare for vulnerable families. Community leaders are calling for urgent interventions to prevent such monstrosities, while Mandi awaits court proceedings amid widespread condemnation.