Bunty Gupta, 36, was absconding since August 17 after abandoning his two daughters, aged three and eight years, who were rescued last week from a dark, closed room with maggots infesting their bodies.
In a story that reeks of extreme parental apathy, vagaries of alcoholism, joblessness and poverty, Gupta allegedly not only abandoned his minor daughters to die, but also killed his son by flinging him in the Munak Canal on August 18, police said.
The police were on the lookout for Gupta and received a tip-off that he has been seen roaming in Samaypur Badli area by the locals late last night.
He was arrested around 1 AM today from near Nepali Colony where he used to stay with his family, police said, adding they were searching for his wife Jyoti, who had allegedly left him for another man.
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According to the police, the accused was worried about taking care of his three children and decided to abandon them.
"He said he did not have money to even feed his children. He was not in a position to feed them or get them adequate treatment for their wounds," said the officer.
Gupta, allegedly a drunkard, was a resident of Teliwara in Sadar Bazar area but was living with his wife and children in Samaypur Badli since his marriage.