Palakkad: A six-year-old boy who went missing from his house on Saturday was found dead in a pond on Sunday morning. The deceased is Suhan, the younger son of Ambattuppalayam Erumankod natives Muhammad Anas and Thouhida.

He reportedly left home around noon after a quarrel with his brother Rayan. Although the police and local residents searched for the boy until midnight, they could not find him. On Sunday morning, the police resumed the search with the help of Fire and Rescue personnel and checked nearby water bodies. During this search, his body was recovered from the pond. 

Thathamangalam Municipal Chairperson Sumesh Achuthan expressed suspicion over the circumstances of the boy’s death, pointing out that the pond is located around 600 metres away from his house.

“I don’t think the boy accidentally fell into the pond. The pond is not close to the road, and a canal separates the road from the pond. A person walking along the road would not fall into the pond. A detailed investigation should be conducted. The boy would not walk alone such a long distance,” he said.

Meanwhile, the autopsy at Chittoor Government Taluk Hospital confirmed that he died of drowning.

Neighbours said Suhan was seen leaving the house in tears around noon on Saturday.

According to his brother Rayan, Suhan left home after fighting with him while watching a TV programme together. He said he did not follow Suhan, assuming he would return soon.

Suhan’s father, Muhammad Anas, works abroad. His mother, Thouhida, is a private school teacher. It is reported that she was not at home when the boy went missing.