A court in India has sentenced a woman to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of her four-year-old son, whom she claimed to have sacrificed after a goddess appeared in her dream demanding the offering. Additional District and Sessions Judge (POCSO) Lokesh Nagar convicted Aadesh Devi, 32, on Saturday and imposed a fine of Rs 60,000.
Horrific Killing in Bijnor
The killing took place in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh on June 12, 2024, in Jalalpur Hasna village under Heempur Deepa police station. According to the prosecution, the boy’s father, Kapil Chauhan, had left his wife and son Harsh, also known as Kallu, at home while he worked in the fields. Upon returning, he discovered the child critically injured from multiple blows with a spade.
Devi allegedly attempted to destroy evidence by placing the boy’s body on burning wood and setting it alight. The father pulled his son from the flames and rushed him to hospital, but doctors declared the four-year-old dead. Family members said she threatened them with the weapon when confronted.
Post-Mortem and Arrest
A post-mortem examination confirmed severe injuries consistent with the attack. Police arrested Devi shortly afterwards and charged her with murder and destruction of evidence. During questioning, the woman told investigators she had “sacrificed” her son after claiming a goddess visited her in a dream and demanded the child as an offering.
Bijnor Superintendent of Police Abhishek Jha said the court was satisfied with the evidence and witness testimonies. The swift conviction came under Uttar Pradesh’s Operation Conviction initiative, which emphasises strong coordination between police and prosecutors.
Community Shocked
The case has shocked the local community, highlighting the unimaginable betrayal by a mother of her duty to protect her child. Devi’s mental state was noted during the initial investigation, with reports suggesting possible psychological issues.
