A 21-year-old woman allegedly killed her four-day-old daughter by drowning her in a water-filled plastic drum in Madhya Pradesh’s Sidhi district. The mother allegedly placed the newborn inside the drum and closed its lid, causing the baby to suffocate.
The incident took place in Bhelki village under Churhat police station limits.
The deceased newborn has been identified as four-day-old Prisha Patel, daughter of Pankaj Patel and Sonu Patel, 21. According to police, the baby’s body was recovered from a blue plastic drum filled with water. Following the incident, the mother reportedly remained seated while holding the baby’s body in her lap.
Baby was born on July 26
According to the family, Sonu gave birth to the baby at the Community Health Centre in Churhat on July 26. The family named the newborn Prisha.
The mother and baby were discharged from the hospital on July 28 and returned home.
Newborn disappears from bed, body found inside sealed drum
On July 30, the family noticed that the newborn was missing from her bed. They searched the house and surrounding area.
During the search, the baby’s body was found inside a sealed blue plastic drum filled with water kept outside the house.
The fact that the drum had been closed raised suspicion about the circumstances of the baby’s death from the outset.
‘She was my first daughter’
The baby’s father, Pankaj Patel, said Prisha was his first child and first daughter. He said his elder brother has three daughters.
Pankaj said he works as a labourer in the village and does not have a permanent source of livelihood.
Police initially registered murder case
Given the seriousness of the incident, police initially registered a murder case and began an investigation.
A forensic team inspected the crime scene and collected evidence. Police prepared the inquest report and sent the baby’s body for post-mortem.
Family members and people living in the vicinity were also questioned as part of the investigation.
Police suspicion turns towards mother
According to police, Sonu had been mentally distressed after giving birth.
Investigators found that she was allegedly worried about the responsibility of raising the newborn. Police allege that on July 30, she took her daughter to the bathroom and submerged her in a water-filled drum, leading to the baby’s death.
Post-mortem confirms death due to drowning
Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Ashok Khare said the post-mortem report found that the newborn died due to asphyxia caused by drowning.
The report confirmed that the baby’s death was caused by drowning.
Mother arrested
Churhat police station in-charge Rita Tripathi said the newborn’s mother was arrested based on evidence collected from the scene, the post-mortem report and other findings of the investigation.
The investigation into the case is ongoing.
