12‑year‑old girl accused of killing 4‑year‑old boy in Mandsaur district over chocolate dispute

Summary

A police investigation in Shamgarh, Mandsaur district, Madhya Pradesh, says a 12‑year‑old girl pushed a 4‑year‑old boy into a rooftop water tank after a dispute that began when the boy’s mother scolded her over a chocolate. The boy’s body was found three hours later and the girl has been placed in a government juvenile home.

Details

• Date of incident: 26 October 2026
• Location: Shamgarh town, Mandsaur district, Madhya Pradesh, India
• Victim: 4‑year‑old boy, tenant in a house adjacent to the girl’s uncle’s property
• Alleged perpetrator: 12‑year‑old girl, resident of the same neighbourhood
• Sequence of events (as reported by police):

1. The boy was eating chocolate; his mother scolded the girl for taking it.
2. The girl reportedly harboured anger for 7‑8 days.
3. On 26 Oct, she led the boy to the roof of her house, pushed him into a water tank and covered the opening with a stone slab.
4. The boy’s parents reported him missing; a search was launched involving neighbours.
5. The girl’s father discovered the body in the tank about three hours after the incident.

• Police statements: Superintendent of Police Vinod Meena told *The Hindu* that the girl confessed after police spoke to neighbourhood children. The post‑mortem confirmed ante‑mortem drowning.
• Legal action: An FIR was filed under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act on 28 Oct 2026. The girl has been produced before a court and sent to a government juvenile home.

Practical implications

• The case will proceed under the juvenile justice framework, which emphasizes rehabilitation over punitive measures.
• Parents and guardians in the area are being urged to monitor children’s interactions and to address conflicts promptly to prevent escalation.
• Community members can verify the official FIR and court orders through the Mandsaur Superintendent of Police office or the district court’s public records.

Verification

• The statement by SP Vinod Meena was recorded by *The Hindu* on 30 Oct 2026.
• The FIR number and post‑mortem report can be requested under the Right to Information (RTI) Act from the Mandsaur police department.

--- *All information is based on police statements reported by *The Hindu*; no independent verification has been conducted by this writer.*