Agencies

CHANDIGARH, Nov 3: Madness for cricket has cost a child his life as his uncle - a police official - banged his head on the floor after India's loss to Australia on Monday. The Chandigarh police registered a complaint against the relative on Wednesday.

Police booked a case against assistant sub-inspector Malkit Singh of the Punjab police after the two-and-a-half-year-old Lovepreet succumbed to his injuries in a hospital here on Tuesday.

According to the parents of the child, Malkit Singh was watching the crucial Champions Trophy match between India and Australia, played at Mohali near here, in their house in Sector 30 and had an argument with other family members over India's poor show in cricket.

In a fit of rage, he picked up the child and banged his head two-three times on the floor. Before the child's family could react to save the child, the damage had been done.

The child was rushed to the PGI hospital here where he succumbed to head injuries. Malkit Singh later banged his own head against the wall and injured himself. He was also and admitted to the hospital.

He has been booked for murder but is yet to be arrested as doctors told police he was in no position to give any statement or be taken into custody. The child was cremated here Wednesday.