India
-Swastika Sruti
A two-year-old child named Aarav was allegedly killed in Uttar Pradesh’s Firozabad district after being repeatedly slammed on the ground by a 24-year-old man, Viraj alias Jitendra Pathak, who was reportedly upset because Aarav’s mother, Rati Devi, rejected his marriage proposal. Police later arrested Viraj after an alleged exchange of gunfire near Mainpuri Road.
In Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, 24-year-old Viraj Pathak was arrested after allegedly killing 2-year-old Aarav by repeatedly slamming him on the ground, reportedly due to Aarav’s mother rejecting his marriage proposal. Police filed a murder FIR and are investigating the incident.
Police officials stated that an FIR for murder has been filed at Shikohabad police station under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Senior officers visited the locality, inspected the area where Aarav was found, and sent the body for postmortem. Investigators suspect that Viraj considered the toddler an obstacle to marrying Rati and acted with that intention.
Background of the Uttar Pradesh murder case and family relations
Aarav lived with Rati Devi, a 24-year-old teacher from Araon, who had returned to her parents’ home following a marital dispute. Rati’s mother, Pinki Devi, was also staying there. Viraj, who runs a grocery shop in Budaun district, is a cousin of Rati’s estranged husband and became involved with the family while assisting them with the divorce case.
During this period, police said, Viraj allegedly grew emotionally attached to Rati and began asking for marriage. Rati reportedly refused each proposal. According to investigators, Viraj kept pressing the matter and urged Rati to complete her divorce and agree to marry, but both Rati and Pinki remained firm in refusing the proposal.
⚠️DISTURBING AND HORRENDOUS VIDEO #Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh: In an act of one sided love, a man took the life of a 1.5 yr old child by smashing him on ground 8 times in a brutal manner because his mother refused his proposal.
Violence driven by such obsession and revenge… pic.twitter.com/nT2ag1SjHe
— Amitabh Chaudhary (@MithilaWaaala) May 31, 2026
Events in Shikohabad linked to the Uttar Pradesh murder case
On Saturday, Rati and Pinki travelled from Araon to Shikohabad to consult an advocate about the divorce. Their appointment was scheduled for the evening, so they stayed at the residence of a friend of Pinki. Police believe Viraj followed them to Shikohabad and again tried to convince Rati to accept the marriage proposal while they were at the house.
Officers said that when Rati and Pinki again declined, Viraj allegedly took Aarav outside on the pretext of buying a toffee. Around 2.30 pm, he is accused of taking the child to a secluded spot about 50 metres from the residence and violently attacking Aarav. CCTV footage examined by police reportedly shows the accused throwing the child onto the road at least eight times.
Key details of the Uttar Pradesh murder case and investigation
After the assault, Viraj allegedly left the critically injured toddler near the gate of the house and escaped. Family members found Aarav outside about ten minutes later and raised an alarm. Senior officers reached the scene, and a detailed search began in the surrounding area to locate the suspect and collect evidence.
Police formed four teams to trace Viraj. SP (City) Ravi Shanker Prasad said: “Acting on a tip-off that the accused was attempting to evade arrest near Mainpuri Road, a police team laid a cordon in the area. When officers tried to stop and question him, he opened fire on the police. Police returned fire and the accused sustained a gunshot injury to his leg before being arrested. He was shifted to the district hospital for treatment. Investigation in the murder case is continuing,” he said.
The following table summarises key information shared by the police during the Uttar Pradesh murder case probe:
| Person | Age | Role / Description |
|---|---|---|
| Aarav | 2 years | Victim, son of Rati Devi |
| Rati Devi | 24 years | Teacher from Araon, child’s mother |
| Pinki Devi | Not stated | Rati’s mother |
| Viraj alias Jitendra Pathak | 24 years | Accused, grocery shop owner from Budaun |
Police continue to investigate the sequence of events in Shikohabad and are reviewing CCTV footage, witness statements and forensic reports. Officials said further legal action will follow based on the postmortem report, ballistic details from the alleged encounter, and any additional evidence gathered regarding the killing of the two-year-old in Firozabad district.
