Patiala woman held for killing 21-month-old daughter

Patiala: A 27-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly murdering her 21-month-old daughter at their residence in Kherki village under the jurisdiction of Pasiana police station in Patiala district, the police said on Saturday.The accused, Lovpreet Kaur, has been undergoing treatment for depression for the last one-and-a-half years. She was sent to judicial custody on Saturday.The police said the toddler was found injured at the family home Tuesday evening with stab wounds. Neighbours and relatives were reportedly told that the child had slipped and fallen on a knife.The investigators said the family initially tried to portray the death as an accident. Their claim, however, was contradicted by the police and forensic evidence. The police said inconsistencies in the women's account and the nature of the injuries suffered by the child prompted a deeper probe."The toddler was rushed to a private hospital initially, from where doctors referred her to a higher institute. The injured girl child was taken to Govt Rajindra Hospital Patiala, where she was declared dead," said Pasiana SHO inspector Gurpreet Singh."We became suspicious after noticing visible injuries and recovering a sharp-edged weapon from the scene, following which a post-mortem examination was conducted. The initial autopsy report suggested a sharp, deep injury in the abdomen," said the SHO.Lovpreet Kaur allegedly attacked the child with a kitchen knife after becoming agitated by the infant's persistent crying, claimed police sources. Investigators believe that the incident occurred inside the house in a sudden fit of rage.A case was registered against the accused under Section 103 BNS at Pasiana police station, and Lovpreet was arrested from her residence after the family's version of events failed to satisfy the investigators during preliminary questioning, said the police.The police also seized the suspected murder weapon from the house and recorded statements of neighbours and close relatives to establish the precise sequence of events."The victim's father, Harpreet Singh, a farmer, was working in the fields at the time of the incident," said inspector Gurpreet Singh, adding that the victim was born in August 2024.He said the accused initially received treatment for depression in Patiala and was later referred to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh."We obtained a two-day police remand after her arrest. When questioned about the motive or circumstances leading to the crime, she revealed very little. She was sent to judicial custody on Saturday," said the SHO.MSID:: 131278900 413 |