Shadows of Betrayal: The Tragic Murder in Hooghly Konnagar

In Kon Nagar Hooghly, 17 kilometers away from Kolkata, when 8-year-old Shriyansh's cousin reached his room, she was horrified to see the scene. Shriyansh lay there, battered and bloodied. His hands were severed, his head crushed, and his body bore marks of severe beating. It seemed as though the perpetrator wanted to ensure that he didn't survive under any circumstances. Blood was everywhere, and even a kitchen knife lay nearby. The TV blared loudly in the background, almost as if the killer didn't want the noise to escape the room.

When the police arrived, the sight of the dead body left them perplexed. The question haunting everyone's mind was, what kind of hatred could lead to such a brutal murder of a young child? The condition of his body suggested such cruelty that it seemed the murderer wanted to ensure he didn't survive. The dead body was sent for post-mortem, while Shriyansh's parents, Pankaj Sharma and Shanta Sharma, were distraught. Police began their investigation, examining call records and all CCTV footage in the area.

What they found left everyone stunned.' Shriyansh's father, Pankaj Sharma, worked in a private firm in Kolkata, while his mother, Shanta Sharma, managed a restaurant. They had been married for ten years and had an eight-year-old son, who was studying in the fourth standard. The entire family was in shock over the crime. The investigation began, and the first step was to search the house.

There were no signs of forced entry through the windows or doors, and all valuables were in place. Not even a single item was missing. They also had a dog at home, which barked at every stranger. However, upon inquiry, the neighbors revealed that the dog didn't bark during the time of the murder, between 2 and 4 PM on Tuesday. Despite the close proximity of the houses in the neighborhood, no one heard anything unusual. There were no signs of forced entry, robbery, or any indication that the dog barked at someone.

These three points strongly suggested that the murderer was known to the family. Police took down numbers of immediate family, relatives, and friends for further investigation, but nothing significant came from the call records. They then began checking CCTV footage in the neighborhood to see who passed by between 2 and 4 PM. That's when they noticed a woman frequently seen in the area, her face covered with a mask.

The woman's body language raised suspicions, prompting the police to show the footage to Shriyansh's parents. While his mother couldn't recognize her, Shriyansh's father, Pankaj, identified her immediately. She was Ishrat Parveen, a close friend of Shanta's, who often visited their home and was referred to as Shriyansh's aunt. Police started suspecting that there was an affair between Pankaj and Ishrat. However, checking Pankaj's call details revealed nothing, indicating no such affair.

But when Ishrat's call details were checked, they revealed a different story. Her phone was switched off from 1 PM to 8 PM on the day of the murder, and there was regular communication on one number. Surprisingly, that number belonged to Shanta. Further investigation led them to Ishrat's house, which indicated a close bond between Ishrat and Shanta, contrary to what was believed. Shriyansh was also accustomed to calling her aunt.

When interrogated, Shanta broke down and confessed to murdering her son. She admitted that Ishrat had convinced her to do so. Hearing this, the police were shaken to their core. A mother was the killer of her own son. Now the question arises, why did she commit such a heinous crime?

When Shriyansh returned from school one day, he caught his mother with Ishrat in a compromising situation. Shanta was so involved that she didn't notice whether the door was closed or if it was time for Shriyansh to return from school. Imagine an eight-year-old witnessing such scenes. He realized it was wrong but was torn between confronting his mother, who was suffering from anger and sorrow, and understanding what he saw. It wasn't easy for him to comprehend.

From that moment, he began arguing with his mother and feeling upset and frustrated. Meanwhile, Shanta feared her son might reveal their secret, which would bring disgrace upon them. Therefore, disregarding all relationships, she conspired with Ishrat and committed the unimaginable act. I don't think there can be a more horrific crime than pushing cruelty to its limits.

Police mentioned that the biggest help in solving this case came when they realized the dog didn't bark. It became clear to them that an unknown stranger wasn't involved in the case, and the crime was committed by someone known to the family. A mother kills her own son to hide her illicit relationship.