An autorickshaw driver has been arrested for allegedly kidnapping a one-year-old boy from a creche by posing as his father and later strangling the child to death in Haryana’s Panchkula district, police said on Sunday.

Accused posed as child’s father

The accused, identified as Ajay, a resident of Pinjore, allegedly picked up the toddler from a creche on Saturday morning by claiming to be the child’s father. Police said the boy’s mother had dropped him at the creche earlier that day, after which the accused took him away within minutes.

The child was reported missing soon after, when his biological father raised an alarm, suspecting kidnapping.

Body recovered from culvert

Later on Saturday evening, the child’s body was recovered from a culvert near the Sukhomajri bypass. Police said the accused had stuffed the body into a bag and dumped it at the spot after killing the infant.

According to investigators, Ajay allegedly strangled the child using a cloth he used to clean his autorickshaw.

Motive linked to online acquaintance

Police revealed that Ajay had befriended the child’s mother on Instagram around six months ago and met her on a few occasions. During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed that he disliked the woman’s child and believed the toddler was an obstacle to meeting her freely.

“He thought of eliminating the child,” police said, adding that Ajay disclosed the motive and shared the location where he disposed of the body during questioning.

Case registered, probe widens

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the accused has been sent to four days of police remand, Panchkula SHO Inspector Hari Ram said.

Police said investigations are ongoing and have not ruled out any angle, including examining the role of the creche. Authorities are probing whether there was negligence in handing over the child without proper verification of the person claiming to be the father.

The role of the child’s mother is also being examined as part of the wider investigation, police added.