Tamil Nadu: 4-day-old baby girl murdered by father and grandmother

In a heartbreaking incident of female infanticide, a four day old baby was killed by her father and grandmother, who were allegedly displeased with the birth of a fourth female child.

The incident has been reported from the Chozhavandhan town in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai, where Thavamani and Chitra reside. The couple have three female children and Chitra had given birth to the fourth daughter last week at the primary health care center. Although the family claimed that the baby died of an unknown illness, the neighbours who found the whole event suspicious, reported it to the police. The police, the district officials, and a medical team reportedly visited the burial site and conducted an examination, which revealed that the baby girl had been poisoned. According to reports, Thavamani and his mother had poisoned the child while Chitra was away. Although they initially refused to admit what they had done, the duo later confessed to the crime.

The two accused have reportedly been arrested and booked under Sections 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) and 302 (punishment with death or life imprisonment) of the IPC, along with the sections pertaining to female infanticide as well.