Mother Slits 14-Month-Old's Throat With Blade Over Baby's 'Irritable Behavior'

A 26-year-old woman was arrested for slitting her 14-month-old daughter’s throat. The incident took place Wednesday in the western Indian state of Maharashtra.

According to local reports, the mother was fed up of the toddler's cranky behavior and decided to kill her. The suspect, identified as Yogita Mukesh Pawar, admitted to killing her daughter Swara.

Police believe the woman felt "harassed by the child’s irritable behavior," deputy commissioner of police Laxmikant Patil was quoted as saying by local daily the Times of India. Patil also said police were investigating the case to find more details.

The woman was taken into police custody till July 20 before charges were filed against her.

Before admitting to the crime, the woman told police that an unidentified man entered her flat and slit the throat of her 14-month-old daughter. She said she had gone out of the home to throw garbage when the attack took place. When she returned, the unidentified man attacked her too.

However, police found that the mother of the child was lying as there was no sign of a scuffle at her home. Police later found a blade in the empty lift shaft of the building.

After getting suspicious about Pawar's story, police carried out blood tests on the blade and confirmed the mother was lying. Police also said the accused may have been in a state of depression that led to the attack.

"We believe there are certain behavioral aspects of the woman that need attention while dealing with the case," police said. "We are told Yogita Pawar had been in a state of depression and this angle would certainly be investigated."