A three-year-old boy was allegedly beaten and strangled to death by his mother’s live-in partner in a deeply disturbing incident reported from Solapur in Maharashtra. The child, identified as Farhan, reportedly died after being assaulted for accidentally defecating on his clothes while sleeping.

Child allegedly attacked while asleep

Police said the incident occurred on the night of December 11. The accused, Maulali alias Akbar Razaaq (44), was allegedly intoxicated when he went to sleep beside the child. Farhan is said to have soiled his clothes during sleep, following which the accused allegedly became enraged and assaulted him before strangling him.

The boy’s mother, Shahnaz Sheikh (28), who works as a domestic help, was not at home at the time. On her return, she was allegedly told by the accused that the child had fallen and sustained injuries.

Attempt to mislead doctors, accused flees

Farhan was initially taken to a private hospital in Solapur. Doctors there reportedly advised shifting the child to a government hospital for further treatment. Police said that instead of following medical advice, the accused took the mother and child towards Vijaypur in neighbouring Karnataka.

After reaching the Vijaypur bus stand, the accused allegedly fled, abandoning the woman and the critically injured child. With assistance from her first husband, Shahnaz later took Farhan to a government hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Post-mortem confirms strangulation

The post-mortem examination confirmed that the cause of death was strangulation, police said. Senior Inspector Pramod Waghmare stated that the accused has been arrested and a detailed investigation is underway to establish the sequence of events and possible prior abuse.

Shahnaz has two children from her first marriage. She and the accused are originally from Vijaypur but had been living in Solapur for about a month before the incident.

Case raises concerns over child safety

The case has sparked renewed concern over child safety in domestic settings involving live-in relationships. Police officials said appropriate sections of law have been invoked, and statements from witnesses and medical staff are being recorded.

The investigation is ongoing.