In a shocking case of infanticide, a woman and her accomplice were sentenced to undergo life imprisonment for the murder of a one-year-old child by drowning her in a water tank by the fast track court on Thursday.
Following a complaint with the Ilayankudi Police, a case under Sections 302 and 109 of the IPC was registered in October 2014.
The deceased, a one-year-old girl named Muneeswari, was found drowned in a drinking water tank in Sanarenthal village.
Background
According to the prosecution, the prime accused, Kannathal, 40, hails from Sethambal village near Ilayankudi. She was married to Murugavel from Melayur village. Due to marital disputes in 2013, she returned to her parental home.
During her stay, she developed a relationship with Karthick Raja, 48, a relative from Senthamil Nagar, Ilayankudi. The affair resulted in the birth of a girl child, Muneeswari. However, after the child’s birth, Karthick Raja began distancing himself from Kannathal. When confronted, he reportedly told her that he did not want a daughter.
Unwilling to sever ties with him, Kannathal decided to kill her own child. On October 3, 2014, around 10 p.m., she drowned the baby in a drinking water tank with the alleged involvement of Karthick Raja.
Following the investigation, Ilayankudi police arrested both accused and they were remanded. The case was later transferred to the Fast Track Mahila Court in Sivagangai for trial.
The judge Gogul Murugan, who heard the case, found both Kannathal and Karthick Raja guilty of the crime. The court sentenced them to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹2,000 each. The Superintendent of Police Sivaganga commended the investigating officers and other personnel who assisted in bringing justice to the victim.
This case serves as a grim reminder of the consequences of societal pressures and personal conflicts, highlighting the importance of child protection and law enforcement in such heinous crimes, officials said.
Published – March 20, 2025 10:02 pm IST