Woman Killed 15-Month-Old Daughter, 'Irritated' By Baby's Cries

A woman was arrested after she killed her 15-month-old daughter in the southern Indian state of Kerala on Sunday.

The incident came to light Saturday afternoon after the accused, 24-year-old Athira, informed her neighbors her daughter was lying unresponsive on the bed. The neighbors then rushed the baby to a local hospital where she was declared brought dead. Doctors grew suspicious after Athira told them the baby died in her sleep and immediately informed police, who inspected the body and found a cut on the baby’s lips.

The autopsy report released Sunday concluded the baby had died of asphyxiation. Following the funeral Sunday afternoon, Athira and her father-in-law, who was also at the home when the incident took place, were called for police interrogation, during which the baby’s mother confessed to the crime.

“Athira told us that she covered the mouth of the baby with her hands and killed her. She was irritated by the child’s cries,” a police officer said, local daily the Times of India reported.

Neighbors told police that the accused used to torture the child regularly.

“Athira used to torture the child since her birth. She used to beat the baby whenever would cry. She also used boiling water to bathe the baby. However, none of us were ready to question Athira as she used abusive language at us,” a neighbor said.

This was not the first time Athira was taken into custody. She and her husband Sharon allegedly attacked and injured his mother last year. The couple was imprisoned and the then five-month-old baby too spent a few days in the prison with them.

The baby’s grandmother told police she suspected Athira of the child’s murder as she used to torture the baby. When the baby was two-months-old, police had intervened in the issue, local daily Mathrubhumi reported.

The case remained under investigation.