Child murder suspect 'killed in shootout'

Police on Thursday claimed to have solved the mysterious abduction and murder case of a four-year-old boy from the Rawat police jurisdiction near Moza Gahd, Hoshial. The child, identified as Arshman, was abducted in November 2024 while attending a wedding with his mother.

The accused, a resident of the same village, was traced to Dhoke Awan, where he worked at a local farmhouse. Police investigations revealed that he lured the child with sweets, abducted him, and took him to the farmhouse on a motorcycle. Shockingly, the suspect gave the child medicine when he developed a fever but failed to seek proper medical help. The illness worsened into fatal pneumonia, and after the child's death, the suspect dumped the body in a nearby pond. Following the crime, the accused went into hiding. Around two months after the child's disappearance, his body was recovered from stagnant water near the wedding venue.

The case saw a breakthrough after the formation of the CCD two months ago. Over 40 individuals were interviewed and suspicion grew around a local man named Atif.

Once arrested, Atif confessed to abducting the child with the lure of sweets and taking him to the farmhouse. According to a police spokesperson, while Atif was being taken for a crime scene identification, unidentified accomplices opened fire on the CCD team. Atif was injured in the exchange and later died from his wounds.