Goa police have arrested Kailash, a 21-year-old man from Bengaluru, for allegedly conspiring in the murder of a toddler, following the earlier apprehension of the child’s mother, Nagamma Ravi V, and her live-in partner, Nithin Kumara Poojara.
Nagamma and Poojara were arrested on October 16 after authorities discovered that the child had allegedly been smothered to death while living in rented accommodation in Maulinguem, where the couple worked as labourers.
During police interrogation, the couple revealed that Kailash had visited them in Maulinguem. Investigators found that Kailash, who wished to marry Nagamma, was reportedly unwilling to accept her child from a previous marriage. Police allege that this refusal played a role in the tragic events.
The autopsy report confirmed asphyxia due to smothering as the cause of death. It also noted multiple injuries in various stages of healing, suggesting that the child had suffered prolonged abuse consistent with “battered baby syndrome.”
Authorities believe the toddler endured ill-treatment from both Nagamma and Poojara. Police further suspect that after the killing, Nagamma may have tried to implicate Poojara by handing him the child’s body. The investigation also revealed that, despite cohabiting in Goa, Poojara had refused to marry Nagamma.
A team led by PSI Akash Parwar has been dispatched to Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka, to further investigate Kailash’s role and gather additional evidence. Police continue to probe the circumstances surrounding the child’s death and any other individuals potentially involved in the crime.
