Mother Kills 2 Daughters With Dumbbells To Appease 'Supernatural Forces,' Father Assists

A woman in India allegedly killed her two daughters with dumbbells to "appease supernatural forces."

The incident took place in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday. The victims' father reportedly assisted the mother, the local police said.

The victims were identified as Alekhya (27) and Sai Divya (22), the Times of India reported. Alekya, who was a forest officer, had returned home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Enquiries with the locals revealed that the family members were highly spiritual and were regularly performing puja (religious ceremony) at their home during the pandemic," Madanapalle deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Manohara Chary told reporters, the Hindustan Times reported.

“On Sunday night, after the completion of a puja (religious ceremony), the parents first killed their older daughter and then the younger daughter,” the police officer said.

Authorities said the mother, who was allegedly mentally disturbed, was the one who killed the daughters with dumbbells while the father helped her hide the crime.

People who live nearby learned about the double murder and informed the police. The parents of the victims were then taken into custody.

“They appeared to be in a state of trance and were suffering from some psychological issues. They told us that their daughters would come alive after some time,” Chary said.

During the investigation, the police found out the couple claimed they received a "divine message" to sacrifice their daughters, following which they would be reborn. The couple had also planned to end their lives.

The bodies of the victims were sent for autopsy, and police were investigating the incident.

In a similar incident in November, a father in the Indian state of Odisha killed his 6-year-old daughter as part of a sorcery ritual. During questioning, the father said his daughter died after he violently slapped her in a fit of rage as she was neglecting her studies. He then put her body in a sack and buried it near a temple. However, local people claimed the man was lying. They said they believe he sacrificed his daughter as part of a sorcery ritual in a bid to become rich.