The body of a four-year-old boy, Swarnava Saha, who went missing on Saturday, was discovered inside the family’s bathroom in Guptipara village under Balagarh police station. The police have detained the child’s grandfather, grandmother, and aunt, suspecting their involvement in what appears to be a murder.
“We have detained the trio as there is sufficient evidence to suspect their involvement. We are interrogating them further,” said Hooghly police chief Kamanasish Sen.
Swarnava’s father, Jadab Saha, had filed a missing person complaint after his son disappeared on Saturday morning. A frantic six-hour search by local authorities, which included the deployment of drones and sniffer dogs, failed to locate the child. The discovery of his body on Sunday morning by his grandfather, Shambhu Saha, has intensified suspicions.
According to a senior police officer in Balagarh, a preliminary investigation suggests that the murder may be linked to a longstanding property dispute within the Saha family. “The bathroom was accessed by several family members and even a female constable stationed overnight to guard the house. Yet, it was only the grandfather who discovered the body, which raises strong suspicions,” the officer noted.
Local residents corroborated the allegations of internal strife, describing the family’s property disputes as well-known in the area. “We were shocked when the boy went missing. Now, with his body found in the bathroom, we suspect it may have been hidden by a family member,” said a resident of Guptipara village. Reports suggest that the family’s disputes had escalated in recent months, with Swarnava’s father, Jadab, cutting off communication with his parents a month ago.
