Uttar Pradesh: Bank Manager Arrested for Alleged Murder of Six-Year-Old Boy

Meerut, Uttar Pradesh: In a tragic incident that has deeply disturbed the local community, a 28-year-old manager of a private bank was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly murdering a six-year-old boy. The police have indicated that the motive behind the crime was the accused’s desire to marry the child’s mother.

The victim, whose identity has been kept confidential by the authorities to respect the family’s privacy, was reportedly playing outside his residence in Meerut when he was lured away by the accused, Arpit Parashar. Parashar, a resident of Muzaffarnagar, worked at a private bank in the city. According to the police, he had been seeking a relationship with the boy’s mother and considered the child an impediment to his marital intentions.

After the boy went missing, his family lodged a missing person complaint, sparking an intensive search operation. Meerut police formed multiple teams and employed technical surveillance, including mobile phone tracking and analysis of CCTV footage from the vicinity. These efforts led them to zero in on Parashar as the prime suspect.

During the initial interrogation, Parashar allegedly tried to mislead the investigators, claiming he had disposed of the body in a canal. However, confronted with the gathered evidence and subjected to rigorous questioning, he eventually broke down and confessed to the crime. Senior police officer Abhijeet Kumar, Additional Superintendent of Police (Meerut), addressed the media, stating that the accused had admitted to luring the child, taking him to a secluded spot, and killing him by slitting his throat with a sharp-edged weapon.

The ASP further disclosed that the boy’s body was recovered from a field approximately 10 kilometres away from his home, based on the confession and subsequent identification by the police. A post-mortem examination has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death and to collect forensic evidence. The weapon believed to have been used in the crime has also been seized.

A case has been registered against Parashar under Section 302 (murder) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code. He has been taken into custody and is currently being questioned to ascertain if any other individuals were involved in the planning or execution of the crime. The police have assured that the investigation will be thorough and that all aspects of the case are being examined.

The gruesome nature of the crime has sent shockwaves through the neighbourhood and the city at large. Residents have expressed their anguish and demanded swift and stringent justice. Local community members described the boy as a lively and innocent child, whose untimely death has left a void in the locality. The police have deployed additional patrolling in the area to reassure the public and maintain calm.

Authorities have also reached out to the victim’s family, providing them with necessary support and counselling. The administration has appealed to citizens to remain peaceful and allow the legal process to take its course. The accused is expected to be produced before a court soon, where the prosecution will seek his remand for further investigation or judicial custody.

Child safety advocates have pointed to this incident as a grim reminder of the vulnerabilities minors face, even in familiar surroundings. They have called for enhanced community vigilance and the implementation of stronger protective measures. Meanwhile, the Meerut police have reiterated their commitment to ensuring that the perpetrator receives exemplary punishment under the law.