Woman kills 3-day-old baby girl in Ramdurg village, arrested

BELAGAVI: A ruthless mother allegedly strangled her three-day-old baby girl to death at Hiremulangi village in Ramdurg taluk on Tuesday. The murder came to light after she visited the government hospital at Ramdurg claiming that her child was not breathing.

Ashwini Hanumath Halakatti (28), who had given birth to three girls previously, was expecting a boy and was reportedly disappointed with the birth of another girl. She had delivered the baby on November 23 at the Mudkavi Primary Health Centre and was discharged the next day following which she went to her mother’s house at Hiremulangi.

On Tuesday, when her mother had stepped out, Ashwini took advantage of the opportunity to strangle her baby girl. She then pretended to be distraught, claiming the baby wasn’t breathing. When taken to Ramdurg Government Hospital, doctors confirmed that the baby had died due to strangulation.

Ramdurg Deputy SP Chidambara Madiwalar visited the scene, and the Sureban police have registered a case of murder against Ashwini. Further investigations are under way.