Indian Woman Arrested for Allegedly Drowning 6-Year-Old Niece at Wedding

By Micheal Chukwuebuka

Police in Panipat, northern India, have arrested a woman, identified as Poonam, for allegedly drowning her 6-year-old niece, Vidhi, during a family wedding on Monday.

Local reports indicate that Vidhi had attended the ceremony with her parents, baby brother and grandmother when she was suddenly reported missing. After an hour of frantic searching, her grandmother found her unresponsive in a nearby storeroom.

According to police, Poonam later confessed to killing the child, allegedly stating that she “didn’t want anyone looking more beautiful than her” at the event. Investigators believe the act was carried out while most guests were outside the house.

In a disturbing turn, authorities disclosed that Poonam also confessed to killing three other children in previous incidents, including her own son and another niece, cases the family had previously thought were accidental.

Superintendent of Police Bhupender Singh said the suspect admitted she was “irritated by beautiful girls” and allegedly targeted children on that basis.

Police have opened a wider investigation into the earlier deaths.