MP shocker: 4-year-old boy beheaded in front of mother, killer lynched

New Delhi: A four-year-old boy from Madhya Pradesh was hacked to death in front of his mother on Friday. He attacked the minor with a sharp-edged weapon, severing his body into two parts.

The child's mother, who tried desperately to save him, was left injured and in a state of deep shock, her cries echoing through the village. Neighbours rushed in, and in a wave of fury, villagers caught hold of the accused. He was beaten severely before the police arrived.

At around 10:30 am in Dhoolbahedi locality, Vikas was playing in the courtyard of his house. His mother, Sona Bai, was engaged in some household chores, while his father, Kalu Singh went for some farm work. All of a sudden, Mahesh reached the house on a motorcycle. Entering the house, Mahesh attacked the minor.

Dhar Superintendent of Police Mayank Awasthi, who called the crime "extremely heartbreaking", confirmed that the accused died on the way to the hospital after being thrashed by the mob. "The real cause of death will be confirmed after the post-mortem. Initial investigations suggest he was mentally unstable," Awasthi said.

A case has been registered against the accused, and a judicial inquiry has been initiated into his death. Upon launching an investigation revealed that Mahesh was a resident of Jobat Bagdi in Alirajpur district. His family told police he had been mentally unstable and missing from home for the past three to four days. Just an hour before the gruesome killing, he had allegedly tried to steal goods from a shop nearby.