SIRSA: Gender inequality took a ghastly turn at a Haryana village when a woman allegedly killed her seven-month-old granddaughter by throwing her into a burning tandoor after thrusting an onion into her mouth.
Family dispute was stated as the reason behind the killing. The police have arrested the 50-year-old Surja Devi in Bazigar Ther village of Sirsa district. A local court on Thursday remanded her in judicial custody for 14 days.
The baby girl, Pooja, went missing on June 20. The local police registered a complaint against an unidentified person on the complaint of her father, Gurdeep Singh. Pooja's badly charred body was recovered near the house the same day.
Police said Surja admitted to her crime. "She hid the body inside the house but later disposed it of outside," said SHO Jagdish Joshi.
"Surja Devi had an old enmity with Jogender Singh, father of her daughter-in-law. On June 17, there was a heated argument between Jogender and Surja over a family issue. Surja wanted to take revenge and hence killed the baby," said Joshi.
The police produced Surja before reporters. She said:
"Meri beti ki shadi mere bahu ke baap ne karwayi thi aur woh dukhi the, to maine bhe uski beti ko tandoor me jala kar mar dala (the father of my daughter-in-law had arranged marriage of my daughter. But my daughter was unhappy. As a revenge, I I killed his daughter's baby)."
Condemning the incident, Jagmati Sangwan, vice president of All India Democratic Women Association (AIDWA), said: "In such cases, girls are seen as a burden on families due to the dowry factor. Moreover, security of girls has also become a cause for concern for parents due to increasing incidents of crime against women."
