Rajkot crime

A 22-year-old man has been detained for murdering his mentally ill mother in Rajkot, after he allegedly confessed to the crime on social media.

Prima facie, Jyoti Gosai—48-year-old single mother to Nilesh Gosai—appears to have been strangled with a blanket, police said. Officials launched an investigation into the incident after one of Nilesh’s friends called the police and alerted 108 emergency services. When emergency officials arrived at the Gosais’ home near Vir Bhagatsinh Garden in the city’s University Road area, they found Jyoti already dead.

A primary investigation by the Gandhigram-2 police revealed that Nilesh killed his mother in a fit of rage amid one of their frequent altercations, allegedly brought on by Jyoti’s erratic behaviour, and verbal and physical abuse.

After the murder, Nilesh posted a photo of himself and his mother on social media, with a disturbing status that read: “I killed my mom, lost my life, sorry mom, Om Shanti, miss you mom.”

Complicated family history

Nilesh reportedly told the police that his mother was awarded custody of him after his parents divorced when he was about 18 months old. However, he was later sent to live in a boys’ home in Kutch after Jyoti’s unstable mental health led to her being institutionalised.

When he aged out of the system, he returned to live with his mother, who stopped taking her medication over the past month.

Nilesh, a factory worker, told the police that his mother’s behaviour had become increasingly erratic and disruptive. He claimed she would physically assault him throughout the day and night, making it impossible for him to rest adequately. Nilesh also reported that his mother would often become violent, sometimes tearing her own clothes. He told police that he lost control and strangled her, during a particularly intense episode in the early hours of Aug 29.

This incident underscores the critical importance of accessible and consistent mental health care as well as the need for support services for caregivers and family members of those with mental health challenges.

Prioritising mental health awareness, reducing stigma, and ensuring continuous care are crucial steps in preventing such tragic situations.

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