A mother has thrown her disabled six-year-old son into a crocodile-infested river where he was mauled to death by reptiles.
Savitri Kumar, 26, from Karnataka in India, had a heated argument with the boy's 27-year-old father Ravi Kumar.
The boy’s father reportedly told his wife to “throw the child away”.
Local police claim the husband allegedly questioned her decision to give birth to a child with a disability.
A mugger crocodile basking on a rock along river Kaveri at the Ranganthittu bird santuary
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The mother was said to have been left distressed after arguing with her spouse on Saturday evening.
She opted to throw him into a waste canal that flows into the Kali River.
Neighbours called the police and divers were sent to search for the boy.
He was not found and his rescue mission was hindered by darkness.
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Drone image directly above a saltwater crocodile
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Police returned on Sunday morning to find the boy’s body covered in bite marks.
The boy suffered severe injuries and was missing a hand.
Police claimed the injuries suggested the boy was mauled to death by one or more crocodiles.
A post-mortem has been ordered to determine the six-year-old’s cause of death.
High Angle View Of Group Of Crocodiles
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The Kumars have another son, aged two, but frequently fought about their older son’s speech impediment.
Officers subsequently launched an investigation into the incident.
An officer told local media that it is a “murder” case and that both the husband and wife have been arrested.