Man arrested for killing 11-month-old daughter; mother’s role under probe

The Avalahalli police have arrested a tractor driver for allegedly killing his 11-month-old daughter in a brutal way over a domestic row with this wife.

The police said that the murder case has been registered based on the post-mortem report and circumstantial evidence.

According to the case registered at the Avalahalli Police Station, the incident occurred on June 9 at a shed in Kitaganur village. Initially, the child’s father, Shekappa, informed the police that his 11-month-old daughter, Renuka, accidentally fell from a cot after her mother, Vijayalakshmi, dozed off while breastfeeding. The infant was taken to a private hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

An Unnatural Death Report (UDR) was initially registered and an investigation was launched.

During the inquest and post-mortem, the investigators found multiple external injuries on the infant’s face, chest, legs and private parts. The police said the injuries did not appear consistent with a fall from a cot, which was found to be only about two feet high during the spot inspection.

The investigation also included statements from witnesses, who allegedly told the police that frequent domestic quarrels took place between the couple and that the mother was allegedly indifferent towards the second child. The investigators suspect that during a heated argument between the couple, the infant started crying. Enraged by this, she was allegedly kicked and thrown to the ground, resulting in fatal injuries.

The post-mortem report reportedly concluded that the child died due to excessive internal bleeding and respiratory complications caused by multiple internal injuries.

Based on the medical opinion, witness statements and other circumstantial evidence, the police converted the case into a murder investigation under Section 103(1) read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Saidulu Adavath, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Whitefield Division, said, “Based on the post-mortem report and circumstantial evidence, a murder case has been registered and the father of the child has been arrested. The role of the mother is under investigation, and action will be taken accordingly.”