Poverty turns deadly as father of five kills 4-year-old son amid financial crisis

Baripada: A father, struggling to provide for his family of five children, allegedly took the life of his four-year-old son, leaving an entire village in shock and grief.

The tragic incident occurred at Purunapani village under Sarat police limits in Mayurbhanj district. According to police, the accused father, identified as Sohan Singh, allegedly snatched his four-year-old son Dumbi Singh from his mother’s arms on Thursday and attacked him with a sharp-edged weapon. The child died on the spot.

The incident came to light after Sarat Police arrested Singh and began questioning him. During interrogation, he reportedly confessed to the crime, stating that extreme financial hardship and his inability to support his family pushed him towards the shocking act.

Singh was the father of five children and had been struggling to meet the basic needs of his family amid severe poverty. The burden of survival and mounting distress had reportedly taken a heavy toll on him, sources said.

IIC of Sarat Police Station Ramakant Patra said the accused also appeared to be facing mental health challenges, which could have played a role in the tragic incident. Police have registered a case and are investigating all aspects surrounding the child’s death.

The incident has left the villagers devastated, raising painful questions about poverty, mental distress, and the desperate situations that can push vulnerable individuals towards unimaginable actions. The death of the innocent child has cast a pall of grief over Purunapani village.