<p>A woman in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur town, about 500 km from here, is accused of hacking her five-month-old daughter to death on Thursday night.<br /><br />The woman had two daughters, and was told by an “exorcist” that her wish for a son could be granted if she made a sacrifice.<br /><br />According to police sources, the woman, identified as Reena Devi, was often humiliated by her husband for not giving birth to a son.<br /><br />Sources said Reena was influenced by an “exorcist”. “She would often perform strange rituals at home so her wish could be granted,” said police officials quoting her family members.</p>.<p>When five-month-old Khushi went missing on Thursday. the neighbours suspected foul play and informed the police, who took Reena into custody and interrogated her.<br />Reena broke down during the questioning and revealed that she had hacked Khushi to death and buried her body at a cemetery nearby. It was later recovered. <br /><br />‘Drank blood’<br />What came as a further shock to the police was that Reena confessed to drinking Khushi's blood. “Reena might have been told by the 'exorcist' to commit this gruesome act,” said the officials.<br /><br />“We are trying to trace the exorcist,” they added.<br /><br />Earlier, too, several girls had been killed by their parents in different parts of the state when they failed to have a son. <br /><br />“It is really very sad that even in the 21st century we are behaving like animals and killing our daughters,” said social activist Shishupal Yadav.<br /><br />In many cases, women were blamed for not bearing male children, and are killed by their husbands.</p>
<p>A woman in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur town, about 500 km from here, is accused of hacking her five-month-old daughter to death on Thursday night.<br /><br />The woman had two daughters, and was told by an “exorcist” that her wish for a son could be granted if she made a sacrifice.<br /><br />According to police sources, the woman, identified as Reena Devi, was often humiliated by her husband for not giving birth to a son.<br /><br />Sources said Reena was influenced by an “exorcist”. “She would often perform strange rituals at home so her wish could be granted,” said police officials quoting her family members.</p>.<p>When five-month-old Khushi went missing on Thursday. the neighbours suspected foul play and informed the police, who took Reena into custody and interrogated her.<br />Reena broke down during the questioning and revealed that she had hacked Khushi to death and buried her body at a cemetery nearby. It was later recovered. <br /><br />‘Drank blood’<br />What came as a further shock to the police was that Reena confessed to drinking Khushi's blood. “Reena might have been told by the 'exorcist' to commit this gruesome act,” said the officials.<br /><br />“We are trying to trace the exorcist,” they added.<br /><br />Earlier, too, several girls had been killed by their parents in different parts of the state when they failed to have a son. <br /><br />“It is really very sad that even in the 21st century we are behaving like animals and killing our daughters,” said social activist Shishupal Yadav.<br /><br />In many cases, women were blamed for not bearing male children, and are killed by their husbands.</p>
