12-year-old boy brutally killed, stepfather held
A brutal and cold-blooded murder of a minor has shocked northeast Delhi, where a 12-year-old boy was allegedly lured from school, tortured, and killed by his stepfather. The crime was an act of revenge over a domestic dispute. Police said the child was repeatedly attacked with a sharp, screwdriver-like weapon, including injuries to the eyes, before his body was dumped in bushes near a roadside in the Shastri Park area.
The crime came to light on Friday morning. Shastri Park police received information around 9.50 am about an unconscious boy lying near the Shastri Park Chowk Loop. A police team rushed to the spot and shifted the child to Jag Pravesh Chandra hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.
The victim was later identified as Altamash, a 12-year-old Class 7 student and resident of the area. A case has been registered under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and an investigation is underway. Police said the gravity of the injuries clearly points to a sustained and violent assault. The child had multiple stab wounds, serious head injuries, and damage to the eyes. A pointed tool resembling a screwdriver was found near the body and is suspected to be the murder weapon.
According to the family, Altamash left home for school on Thursday morning but did not return after classes. While the family was searching for him, his stepfather, identified as Wajid, allegedly called the boy’s elder brother Aman and confessed to the killing. He reportedly told the family where the body had been left. Police described the accused’s reported actions as exceptionally disturbing. Initially, the family thought it was a cruel attempt to frighten them. Their fears turned real when they found Altamash’s body lying in bushes by the roadside.
Preliminary inquiry suggests the murder was driven by ongoing marital disputes between the accused and the child’s mother. Police said the stepfather allegedly targeted the boy to settle personal scores.
Investigators are also examining whether the accused acted alone or with the help of associates. A forensic team inspected the crime scene and collected biological and physical evidence. The body has been sent to the Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital mortuary for post-mortem examination to establish the exact cause and sequence of injuries.
The accused stepfather is currently absconding. Multiple police teams, including the crime branch, have been deployed to trace him. Raids are being conducted at suspected hideouts, and technical surveillance has been activated.
The incident has sparked outrage in the area, with residents demanding swift arrest and strict punishment. Police said the case involves extreme cruelty against a child and assured that the accused will be arrested soon.
