A five-year-old boy’s chilling eyewitness account helped police crack the murder of his eight-month-pregnant mother, allegedly killed by her husband in a drunken rage in Uttar Pradesh’s Mahoba district.
The accused, identified as Hanif Mansoori, was arrested after police found inconsistencies in his statements and received a crucial account from the couple’s young son, Faizan, who told officers that his father had attacked his mother with a sickle.
The incident took place late Saturday night in Bijrari village under the Panwari police station area. According to police, Hanif, allegedly addicted to alcohol and gambling, returned home intoxicated and got into an argument with his wife, Manisha Mansoori (27), after she objected to his drinking.
What began as a domestic dispute soon turned deadly. Police said Hanif allegedly attacked Manisha repeatedly with a sharp-edged sickle, inflicting severe injuries to her head and neck. She died on the spot. The victim was around eight months pregnant at the time of the attack.
The most disturbing aspect of the crime was that the couple’s children—a five-year-old son and a two-year-old daughter—were present during the assault. Since the incident, Faizan has reportedly remained traumatised and frightened.
According to investigators, Hanif attempted to mislead police after the murder by calling them around 11.30 pm and claiming that his wife had died. However, officers who reached the scene found injury marks consistent with an attack using a sharp weapon.
Kulpahar Circle Officer Aniruddh Singh said Hanif repeatedly changed his version of events during questioning, raising suspicion.
“The couple’s five-year-old son later told police that his father, who was allegedly intoxicated, attacked his mother multiple times with a sickle,” Singh said.
The child’s statement prompted further interrogation, following which the accused allegedly confessed to the crime and was arrested.
Family members of the deceased alleged that Hanif was suspicious by nature and often subjected his wife to domestic abuse. Villagers said he had developed severe alcohol and gambling addictions and had reportedly sold a large portion of his agricultural land to fund his habits.
The accused’s father, Suleiman, demanded the harshest punishment for his son, saying he deserved to be hanged for the crime.
Police have registered a murder case and sent the body for post-mortem examination. Further legal action is underway.
The incident has shocked the village and left two young children without their mother, while the unborn child also lost its life in the brutal attack.
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