A 45-year-old woman, Rehmati Khatoon, has been arrested for the murder of her 12-year-old adopted son, Sahil, after she allegedly strangled him in a fit of rage over a theft of Rs 2,500 from her grocery store.
The incident occurred on May 14 in Daulat Nagar colony, where Khatoon operated her shop. According to Loni ACP Siddharth Gautam, Sahil initially denied stealing the cash, but Rehmati later found it hidden in his room. The confrontation escalated when Sahil allegedly showed no remorse, prompting her to assault and strangle him.
After realizing the boy was unconscious, Rehmati ran out of the house, crying for help and claiming her son had collapsed suddenly. Neighbours rushed Sahil to a hospital, but doctors declared him dead on arrival.
A post-mortem conducted on May 18 confirmed death by strangulation, following severe physical abuse. During police interrogation, Rehmati confessed, revealing that Sahil had displayed problematic behaviour in the past, including a previous theft and skipping school.
Sahil was the biological son of a relative, and though the adoption was informal, the childless couple had committed to raising him.
A case has been filed at Tronica City police station under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with murder.
