Girl dies; neighbours blame mother who wanted son

A three-year-old girl died under mysterious circumstances on Tuesday, with the neighbours alleging that she was beaten to death by her mother who wanted a son.

The girl was identified as Varsha, a resident of Kaval Byrasandra. The neighbours demanded stringent action against her mother Priya.

Police took Priya and husband Manjunath into custody on Wednesday after the last rites of the girl were conducted. They are being interrogated.

Manjunath, a daily-wage labourer, and Priya, a vegetable-seller, were living with Varsha in a rented house beside the Kaval Byrasandra bus stop. Police said the girl’s left leg was fractured last month and that she had suffered burns after hot water fell on her two days ago.

The exact cause of her death will be known only after the postmortem report, they said.

Meanwhile, neighbours allege that Pirya used to assault Varsha every day, as she didn’t want a girl child. Priya’s aunt Yashodamma said the couple wanted a boy and were not happy when Varsha was born. Priya even branded her with hot iron, Yashodamma alleged.

It is said that Priya used to lock Varsha inside before going out. The neighbours used to give her food. They had complained to the police a couple of times and the cops had even warned her.

On Tuesday, they say, Priya gagged the child and beat her to death. Priya is three months’ pregnant now. If she delivers a girl again, she has threatened to kill her too, the neighbours alleged.

The police, however, said they don’t have evidence to prove Priya killed her daughter, apart from the neighbours’ statements. They suspect Varsha was sick after her leg was fractured and she suffered burns. She might have died due to lack of medical treatment, but police said they will investigate all angles.