Man poisons 5-year-old to death over land dispute

A five-year-old boy died after his neighbour mixed posion in his drinking water to settle a long-standing land dispute with his family, police said on Wednesday.

The incident took place in Kalsheti locality on November 3, when accused Dhakal Dharlya Dighe allegedly mixed poison in the drinking water of his neighbour's house to settle scores with his (boy's) family after the victim's grandfather purchased the disputed piece of land recently said PI Keshavrao Naik of Jawhar police station.

30-year-old Dighe from tribal Jawhar taluka here has been arrested.

The matter came to light when the boy and his younger sister left for school after consuming food and water, and started complaining of giddiness and vomiting following which they were rushed home, police said.

Soon after, the boy, Ashok Vinayak Charal, died but the sister Roshni (4) was saved after being admitted to the Patanghsa Cottage hospital here, police said.

Police initially registered a case of accidental death but further probe revealed a dispute between the families.

Subsequently, the accused was charged under various sections of the IPC and arrested yesterday, the police officer said.