UP court awards death penalty to man for killing 18-month-old nephew in Firozabad

A court in Uttar Pradesh's Firozabad district has sentenced a man to death for the brutal murder of his 18-month-old nephew, whom he allegedly killed by repeatedly slamming the child against the ground.

According to District Government Counsel Rajiv Upadhyay, District and Sessions Judge Dr Babbu Sarang pronounced the death sentence on Friday after convicting the accused, Jitendra Pathak alias Viraj, a day earlier.

The incident took place on May 30 when Viraj visited his sister-in-law, Rati, who had travelled from Bamai village under the Araon police station area to Shikohabad to meet relatives.

During the investigation, Viraj allegedly confessed that he wanted to marry his brother's wife. After she rejected his proposal, he viewed her one-and-a-half-year-old son, Aarav, as an obstacle and allegedly murdered the toddler by repeatedly slamming him against the ground.

Police said the accused carried the child's body on his shoulder before abandoning it and fleeing after local residents noticed him.

The prosecution said the investigation was completed swiftly, with the police filing the charge sheet promptly and recording witness statements within six days. During the trial, the prosecution examined 13 witnesses, while the defence produced one witness.

After hearing the evidence, the court convicted Viraj and awarded him the death penalty, terming the crime among the gravest offences.