A horrifying tale of betrayal and bloodlust in the Bishnah tehsil of Jammu district has shaken the whole society as a man allegedly bludgeoned his 11-year-old stepson to death, smashing the helpless child's skull with bricks and stones in an act of brutality.
The heinous murder that left the whole Jammu region shocked was allegedly committed by Ravi Kumar, who killed his minor stepson, Rohit Kumar, only to teach his wife a lesson.
In a chilling turn of events, Ravi allegedly called his wife on her mobile phone after committing the heinous crime and told her that he had killed her son.
Bishnah Police swung into action after receiving information about the incident, arrested the accused and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the gruesome killing.
The victim has been identified as 11-year-old Rohit Kumar. His stepfather, Ravi Kumar, a factory labourer employed in Bari Brahmana in neighbouring Samba district, had married Rohit's mother around five years ago.
On Thursday, Ravi allegedly lured the boy away from home on the pretext of taking him out to buy snacks. He took Rohit to Chak Murari village, around four kilometres from Bishnah town, where he allegedly attacked the child with bricks and stones, repeatedly striking his head.
After allegedly ensuring that Rohit was dead, Ravi dumped the boy's body into a nearby gorge. Shockingly, he then called his wife and informed her that he had killed her son.
When police reached the scene, they were confronted with a heartbreaking sight. Rohit's mother, Kanta Devi, broke down upon seeing her son's lifeless body and wailed uncontrollably, leaving onlookers deeply shaken.
Acting swiftly, police arrested the accused stepfather and began questioning him to establish the exact motive behind the killing. Investigators are examining all possible angles, including an alleged family dispute, to determine what led to the brutal murder.
According to police, Ravi Kumar is a native of Khour village in the R S Pura area. He is currently living with his wife, Kanta Devi, near Bari Brahmana in Samba district. Kanta Devi is a native of the Assar area of Ramban district, and Ravi Kumar is her second husband.
Kanta had earlier been married to a man from Rajasthan, and Rohit was born from her first marriage.
Police have registered FIR No. 143/2026 under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Bishnah Police Station and launched a detailed investigation to ascertain the motive behind the brutal murder.
According to the account provided, Kanta wanted to separate from Ravi Kumar and begin a new life with her 11-year-old son, Rohit. However, longstanding differences and an alleged dispute between the couple reportedly took a tragic turn.
Kanta's life had been marked by prolonged hardship. Following the breakdown of her first marriage, she married Ravi Kumar in the hope of starting afresh. Life with Ravi, a daily-wage labourer, was difficult, but she continued to endure the hardships.
However, alleged alcohol addiction, domestic discord and frequent quarrels reportedly strained their relationship. Fed up with the alleged beatings and constant disputes, Kanta eventually decided to separate from Ravi in the presence of community representatives, including Panchs and Sarpanchs. She subsequently moved away with her son in an attempt to rebuild her life.
The police investigation is underway to establish the complete sequence of events and determine the circumstances and motive behind the child's killing.
