A 16-year-old boy allegedly bludgeoned his grandmother to death in a fit of rage after being scolded in their Lodhipur residence on Sunday afternoon.

Police said the boy killed his grandmother, Munni Devi aged around 72 years, after she had an altercation with his mother, Priyanka Devi. Based on the complaint of Munni's son, Uday Shankar Yadav, who runs a hotel in Lodhipur, the Buddha Colony police under whose jurisdiction Lodhipur falls picked up the boy.

Buddha Colony station house officer Manoj Mohan said: "Based on the complaint of victim's son Uday Shankar Yadav, we have arrested the boy and sent him to a remand home. The boy has even confessed to his crime." The police have even recovered the pestle, which was used as a weapon to commit the crime.

Sources in the police said the Yadav family Munni and Uday had a quarrel with Priyanka Devi over some trivial issue. The boy supported Priyanka during the argument.

In the fit of rage, he attacked his grandmother with a pestle, injuring her seriously. Uday rushed her to Patna Medical College and Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.

Sources in the police said the boy had quit his education and had on two earlier occasions ran away from the house following family disputes.

They added that as the family hailed from lower-middle class background and used to regularly quarrel over monetary issues. "Even on Sunday, Uday and Priyanka did the same," said a police officer at Buddha Colony police station.

Murder of the elderly highlights lack of sensitivity in the young generation.

City-based psychologist Brinda Singh observed the new trend as extremely dangerous for the society and that the young generation showed no love or respect for their elderly family members. The doctor said: "A person whose upbringing is not sound reflects such mentality. Children who come from broken families or belong to families which witness regular clashes between parents are impulsive."

The psychologist claimed that such people are psychopaths and have anti-social mentality.

"Such children are not able to control their anger. Social and economical problems are other reasons behind such mentality," added Singh.

Proper counselling and correct guidance from family members help in reforming the mentality of such children.