Haryana shocker: Woman strangles newborn, hides body in shed; secret affair suspected, police launch probe

CHANDIGARH: A woman from a village in Haryana's Kaithal turned into a cold-blooded executioner, killing her male child moments after bringing him into the world. The newborn's body was found inside a bag in the cattle shed, his mouth stuffed with ash, and a scarf used for strangling him around his neck.

The husband of the accused woman, 29, has been living in Portugal for the past three years. The couple has three children including two daughters and one son.The pregnancy -- suspected to be the outcome of an extra-marital affair --- was allegedly kept under wraps by the woman, who is now in jail, out of fear of social disgrace.Cheeka police station SHO Balbir Singh told TOI that considering the medical condition of the accused, she has been sent to judicial custody.

"Once she is medically fit, we will take her on police remand for investigation. She has been booked for murder and related charges for destruction of evidence," he added. He, however, clarified that the "affair" was the private matter of the accused and the police will not prosecute her regarding that.As per initial investigation, the childbirth occurred at night in the presence of a few women who allegedly left before dawn.

The neighbours recalled hearing cries, but no one could have imagined the unspeakable crime that followed. Police took samples from the newborn's body for a DNA test to prove that the accused gave birth to the child.Apart from the accused, the police also booked two other women, who allegedly assisted her during te childbirth.The FIR in this case was registered recently on the complaint of the mother-in-law of the accused.

According to the complainant, who is a widow, her only son was married to the accused in 2015, and the couple had three children. She alleged that after her son left for Portugal, her 'bahu' became rebellious and disrespectful."I began to suspect that my daughter-in-law was pregnant due to her swollen belly. When I asked her multiple times, she said it was due to water retention in the stomach. On June 11, I was informed that she might have undergone an abortion. We called the police, who took her to the nearby CHC by ambulance. Next day, my daughter found the body of a newborn baby wrapped in polythene in a cattle shed. The body was packed in a school bag," the complainant mentioned in the FIR.