A local court has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for abducting and murdering his seven-year-old nephew in 2022, a case that investigators described as a "blind murder" because the accused tried to cover his tracks by disposing of the child's body in a canal.
How the 2022 murder case unfolded
According to the prosecution, complainant Simranjit Kaur of Abdulapur Basti reported to the police that her seven-year-old son, Sahajpreet Singh, went missing from home on the night of August 18, 2022. Despite an extensive search by the family, the child could not be traced. A missing person report was filed, and an FIR was registered at the Model Town police station on August 19, 2022.
According to The Tribune, the accused, Swaran Singh, was the victim's uncle. The court found that Singh had abducted the boy and later murdered him, then dumped the body in a canal to hide the crime.
Motive behind the murder
The prosecution argued that the motive was property-related. Since Sahajpreet was the only son in the family, the accused allegedly believed that after the child's death, the family property would eventually pass on to his own children.
"Since Sahajpreet was the only son in the family, the accused allegedly believed that after the child's death, the family property would eventually pass on to his own children." — The Tribune
Court verdict and sentence
Additional Sessions Judge Dr Rajneesh convicted Swaran Singh for the kidnapping and murder of the boy. The court sentenced him to life imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the accused.
The case was registered under FIR No. 159 dated August 19, 2022, at the Model Town police station. The investigation took nearly four years to reach a conclusion.
Our Take: Justice served but questions remain
In our view, this case highlights a disturbing reality — how greed for property can drive a person to kill their own family member, especially a child. The life sentence is appropriate for such a calculated crime. However, the fact that it took nearly four years for the case to conclude shows how slow the justice system can be. For the family of Sahajpreet Singh, the wait must have been agonizing. While the verdict brings some closure, it cannot undo the loss of a young life. This case should serve as a reminder that property disputes within families can turn deadly, and courts must handle such sensitive cases with urgency.
