Mother accused of throwing disabled 6-year-old son into canal to be eaten by crocodiles

The child’s body was found the next day

Indian police arrested a couple after finding the partially devoured body of their 6-year-old son whose mother is accused of throwing him into a canal known to be home to crocodiles, according to multiple reports.

Savitri Kumar and her husband Ravi Kumar have been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the incident on Saturday evening in the Indian state of Karnataka, local police said, according to Hindustan era, Outlook IndiaAnd India Times.

The boy, identified as Vinod, suffered from a hearing and speech disorder, according to Outlook India, India Times and News 18, CNN’s Indian affiliate.

His partially devoured body was found in the jaws of a crocodile the next day, police said, according to Hindustan era and News 18.

On Saturday evening, following an altercation during which Ravi allegedly blamed his wife for having a disabled child, Savitri allegedly threw Vinod, 6, into a canal connected to a river known for its crocodiles, according to police . India Times And Hindustan era reported.

After neighbors alerted police, a brief search was carried out before being called off for the night, media reported.

The search resumed Sunday morning, when police found Vinod’s body with several bite marks and a missing hand, police said, according to India Times and News 18.

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Police say Ravi harassed Savitri and asked her to “throw the child away” because of her disability, according to India Times and WION News.

“My husband is responsible. He kept saying let (Vinod) die,” Savitri told reporters, according to Outlook India.

“If my husband continues to repeat such things, what torture could my son endure? But he kept telling me to let the child die,” she said.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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