Tragic Incident at Wedding Celebration

A woman is accused of drowning her six-year-old niece during a wedding celebration, reportedly because she “looked cuter than her.”

The woman, identified as Poonam, allegedly drowned her niece in a bathtub after the family gathered for the ceremony in Panipat, northern India, on a recent Monday.

The girl, Vidhi, was there with her family—her father, mother, 10-month-old brother, and grandmother.

During the festivities, Vidhi’s father received a call about the girl being missing, prompting the family to search for her.

Tragically, about an hour later, Vidhi’s grandmother, Omwati, was found dead in a nearby shed with her head submerged in water.

Authorities arrested Poonam following the incident, and she reportedly confessed to the murder of her niece. She indicated that she did not want anyone to appear more beautiful than her at the wedding.

Police Chief Bhupender Singh mentioned that investigators believe the crime occurred while the guests were outside.

Poonam allegedly followed Vidhi up the stairs, spoke with her on the terrace, then placed her in a plastic bathtub filled with water. It is reported that she drowned the child, locked the door from the outside, and went back down.

During her interrogation, Poonam expressed irritation towards pretty girls. Moreover, she reportedly confessed to previously murdering another niece and three other children, including her own son, who also drowned.

Earlier this year, she allegedly killed her sister-in-law’s nine-year-old daughter and then her own son to “avoid suspicion.” In August, she was said to have murdered a girl nearby for similar reasons of jealousy.

Initially, these deaths were considered accidents by the family, but now police believe Poonam committed these crimes one after another.