19-year-old boy dies after being fed tonic to increase height

GHAZIABAD: A 13- year-old boy from Sahibabad died on Tuesday night after consuming a tonic that he believed would increase his height, the police said.

GHAZIABAD: A 13- year-old boy from Sahibabad died on Tuesday night after consuming a tonic that he believed would increase his height, the police said.

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The parents of the minor filed a complaint at the Sahibabad police station against a neighbour, Sunita, who allegedly fed the boy the tonic. The police later arrested Sunita.

The deceased, Amukh Kumar was a class 7 student at a private school in Sahibabad. His father, Ashok Kumar, is a taxi driver and stays in Harsh Vihar colony in Sahibabad.

“On Tuesday evening, Amukh complained of stomach ache and started vomiting blood. He was taken to a private hospital in Sahibabad from where he was referred to GTB hospital in Delhi, where he died during treatment,” said Rashid Ali, station house officer, Sahibabad Police station.

“In the meantime, his parents learnt that their neighbour Sunita had given the boy a tonic to increase his height on Tuesday afternoon. The parents then filed a written complaint with the police on Wednesday morning,” added Ali.

According to the police, initial investigations have revealed that the tonic which was consumed by Amukh had expired and might have poisoned the boy. The boy’s body was sent for post-mortem after which it was handed over to the family.

“We are waiting for the post-mortem report. We have lodged an FIR under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and arrested Sunita on Wednesday afternoon,” said Ali.

The parents of the boy refused to speak to the media.