A 13-year-old boy has been taken into custody for allegedly killing his 6-year-old cousin in Maharashtra's Palghar district. Police said the boy was jealous of the attention the girl received and may have been influenced by a Hindi film about a serial killer.

The girl's body was found on Sriram Nagar hillock around 4:30 am on Sunday, according to an official from Pelhar police station.

Jealousy led to crime

Senior Inspector Jitendra Vankute from Pelhar police station confirmed that a 13-year-old boy from Nalasopara has been taken into custody. He said, "The boy killed his cousin because he was jealous and felt that everyone pampered her."

The girl went missing on Saturday evening, and her family reported it to the police. During the investigation, CCTV footage from a nearby company showed the boy taking the girl away. At first, he tried to mislead the police but later admitted to the crime.

Police said the boy strangled the girl and then smashed her face with a stone. He was reportedly influenced by Raman Raghav, a Hindi film about a serial killer. Police have registered a murder case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and further investigations are underway.

Father arrested for killing infant daughter

In another shocking case, a 40-year-old man, Sanjay Kokare, has been arrested for allegedly murdering his four-month-old daughter in Kamaraj Nagar, Ghatkopar.

Police said Kokare was unhappy about having a third child, a daughter, after already having two sons, which led to frequent arguments with his wife.

On March 1, while his wife was at work, he allegedly strangled the baby using a curtain cord. When she returned home and found the baby lifeless, she immediately informed Pantnagar Police Station.

The police swiftly arrested Kokare on murder charges and are now investigating whether he acted out of anger or had mental health issues.

You might also be interested in - Liquor seized ‘every four seconds’ in dry Gujarat; bottles hidden under vegetables, water tanks