Patna, Aug 8
In a shocking incident, a 12-year-old boy died and his father sustained severe burns after being allegedly set on fire in their home at Kachora village in Bihar's Katihar district.
The deceased has been identified as Sunil Kumar Mandal.
Sunil's father, 45-year-old Ram Kalyan Mandal, is battling for his life in Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital, Bhagalpur's burn ward.
According to police, both the man and his son were sleeping on the veranda of their house on Thursday when unidentified assailants allegedly sprinkled petrol on them and set them ablaze.
The incident has plunged the village into mourning. Family members allege foul play, though the motive remains unclear.
Kadwa SHO Vijay Prakash said one person has been detained for questioning, and the case is being investigated from "every possible angle".
"We are also waiting for the recovery of the injured person to take his statement. His statement will be crucial to identify the accused," Prakash said.
"We have registered an FIR of murder and attempt to murder under the relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sahita in Kadwa police station, and the investigation is currently underway. We are taking statements of the deceased's family members to crack this case," he added