Woman held for ‘killing 5-year-old daughter’; police suspect her role in death of 2 other minor daughters

Manveersingh works as a floor tiles-fitter at different construction sites and has been married to Nandini, a resident of Morena district in Madhya Pradesh, for the past eight years. The couple had three children—Anshu (5), Banshika (3) and a 20-day-old girl. The five-year-old had been living with Manveersingh’s elder brother Kalyansingh and his wife, who also reside in Bharuch but are childless.

According to his complaint, Manveersingh left for work Sunday morning and at 11.00 am, received a call from Nandini saying Anshu had come home. But around 12.30 pm, he got a call from Kalyansingh saying Nandini had rushed Anshu to Bharuch Civil hospital. Upon arriving at the hospital, he got to know that Anshu was declared dead on arrival.

Nandini told him that their daughter went to sleep after having lunch and did not wake up. So she took her to the hospital after intimating Kalyansingh and neighbours.

However, Manveersingh found some marks and red patches around Anshu’s neck on the body following which he suspected foul play. Manveersingh further questioned Nandini when she allegedly broke down and confessed that she had killed Anshu and also wanted to die by suicide over marital discord but could not do it.

“After Anshu’s arrival, Nandini had planned to kill Anshu and then die by suicide. Until afternoon, Anshu was playing with her neighbours and later, after having lunch, she went to sleep. Nandini strangulated her to death and later tried to die by suicide but did not. She then faked a story that something wrong happened to Anshu when she was asleep and could not wake up,” said Bharuch A division police inspector PR Vaghela.

Nandini, in her statements to the police, said she did not like to stay at her in-laws’ place or continue the relationship. The couple also used to quarrel frequently. Three months ago, Nandini tried to commit suicide by consuming poison after a fight with her husband. She was also fed up with staying in Bharuch.

Manveersingh’s complaint also states that their 20-day-old baby had died under “mysterious circumstances” last year. The second child—Banshika—had also died under “mysterious circumstances” as recently as on March 8 when the family was at their native place at Dholpur in Rajasthan to celebrate Holi. According to the complainant, Banshika was playing outside the house when she was found dead, but the family did not inform the Rajasthan police and returned to Bharuch.

“All three children died under mysterious circumstances. Currently, Nandini has confessed to have killed only Anshu. We will also try to find out about the deaths of the other two children,” Vaghela added.