Debt-ridden youth killed boy to steal money: Cops

Agra: With the arrest of a 22-year-old youth on Sunday night, the Itmad-ud-daula police has solved the murder of nine-year-old Krish Gautam whose throat was slit while he was alone at home.
The accused identified as Ayush Sharma is a resident of Motibagh and was well known to the victim’s family. Three years ago, the Sharmas had been tenants of the Gautams. The former had lived on the first floor of the house for four years.
The accused was booked under IPC section 302 (murder). Police have recovered the blood stained clothes of Ayush and the weapon used in killing Krish.
On November 17, Krish, a class III student, was killed at his residence while his mother and five-year-old sister had gone to the local market to buy groceries. The boy’s father was away at work at the time.
According to police, “Son of a medical instrument mechanic, Ayush had taken a loan of Rs 10,000 which he apparently could not repay. On Friday evening, after the victim’s mother, Nitu, and his sister left for the market, Ayush entered their house. Krish was watching TV. Ayush was carrying a saw blade along with him to cut the cupboard locker.
“To execute theft, the accused asked Krish to fetch a glass of water for him from the kitchen. When the boy returned with a glass of water, he saw Ayush rummaging the cupboard. A panicked Ayush slit the boy’s throat and covered his body with a blanket, before leaving the house from the back door,” said Hukum Singh, station officer of Itmad-ud-daula.
Police suspected Ayush after a family member of the victim said he met the youth on Friday evening near Gautams’ house.