Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh has been attracting negative attention lately due to a series of distressing incidents, including a BJP leader urinating on a tribal man, an attack on a Christian-managed school and assault on its principal, and now, a grieving mother being slapped by a police officer after the loss of her 9-year-old son.
The mother is said to have been slapped by Head Constable Santosh Singh Parihar when she refused to hand over the body of her nine-year-old son, who was under treatment after being bitten by a snake, for an autopsy. The incident has sparked outrage and raised concerns over the conduct of law enforcement officials in Madhya Pradesh.
The boy, who was bitten by a snake in Jaitpur village of Shahdol district, was rushed to the local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries during his treatment on Friday despite best efforts by doctors to save his life.
Outside the hospital, the heartbroken mother, overwhelmed with grief, was seen inconsolably crying while holding the lifeless body of her son. It was during this emotional moment that Constable Parihar approached her, requesting the body for post-mortem examination.
However, the bereaved mother resisted, unwilling to part with her son's remains. Witnesses reported that Parihar, apparently growing impatient, became agitated and, to the astonishment of onlookers, allegedly slapped the mother in an act of frustration.
Mukesh Vaishya, the Assistant Superintendent of Police in Shahdol, confirmed that Head Constable Santosh Singh Parihar has been suspended with immediate effect. An internal inquiry into the matter has also been initiated to ascertain the full details of the incident and ensure appropriate action is taken.