A two-year-old boy has died after his father allegedly poured petrol over him and set him on fire in an incident in India. The child, named Navghan, was two-and-a-half years old when he was allegedly attacked by his father, Ashok Raval, in the village of Suiga.
Alleged attack and death
Police said Ashok had been living separately from his wife for some time, leaving him to care for their young son. He allegedly began to see the boy as a burden and found it increasingly difficult to look after him without help. The incident took place on October 13, between 1pm and 2pm.
The Times of India reports that Ashok allegedly poured petrol over Navghan and set him alight. He later took the seriously injured toddler to hospital, where the child died from his injuries.
Burial and investigation
Following the boy's death, Ashok is accused of trying to hide what had happened by burying his son's body at a community burial ground. He was reportedly joined by other family members during the burial, which police believe was intended to conceal the circumstances surrounding the child's death.
However, the incident later came to light after a relative of Ashok, named as Babu Raval, learned what had happened and contacted police. Babu lodged a formal complaint against Ashok, telling officers that his wife had been living separately from him for some time.
Police action
The young boy had reportedly been left in his father's care, with Ashok allegedly struggling to manage the responsibility on his own. Following the complaint, officers visited the burial ground and carried out an excavation in the presence of local officials, including a mamlatdar, a government administrative officer.
The child's body was recovered as part of the investigation into his death. Police have since registered a case against Ashok on suspicion of murder and causing the disappearance of evidence.
