Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], February 28 (HBTV): A sessions court in Bhopal on Thursday sentenced a woman to life imprisonment for killing her one-month-old daughter and imposed a fine of INR 1,000.

The court of Additional Sessions Judge Atul Saxena found Sarita Mewada guilty under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 302. Judge Saxena awarded life imprisonment to the convict and imposed the fine under the said section.

The incident occurred in September 2020. Sarita, who wished for a boy, was reportedly distressed after giving birth to a girl. According to the prosecution, she would curse herself whenever she saw her daughter. One day, taking advantage of being alone at home, she killed her daughter by placing her in a water tank.

Public Prosecutor Sudhavijay Singh Bhadoria said, ‘The case is related to the incident that took place on September 16, 2020. Sarita said that she had laid her daughter on a cot, but when she looked again, the baby was missing. She was alone at home at the time. Later, upon searching, the infant was found dead in a water tank inside the house.’

‘Sarita’s husband, Sachin Mewada, stated that when he questioned his wife, she started crying and admitted that she had put their one-month-old daughter in the water tank and closed the lid. She had expected to give birth to a boy, and after having a girl, she did not love the child. She would curse herself whenever she saw her. Taking advantage of being alone, she put the baby in the water tank and closed the lid, not informing anyone due to fear,’ Bhadoria added.

Following the incident, an FIR was registered under IPC Section 302 at Khajuri Sadak police station in Bhopal, and an investigation was initiated. Based on the evidence collected from the crime scene, a charge sheet was presented before the court.

During the trial, the court accepted the prosecution's evidence, arguments, and legal precedents. The court convicted the accused and sentenced her to life imprisonment along with a fine of INR 1,000 under Section 302 of the IPC.

Additionally, while delivering the judgment, the court remarked that daughters are a powerful symbol of civilization, culture, and nation-building in the present era.

(ANI)