Grandparents,relative held for female infanticide

Madurai, Oct 18 (UNI) Police today arrested three persons on the charges of female infanticide at Koppilipatti Village of this district.

The arrests follow the shocking incident in which a girl child was allegedly killed by her grandparents and a relative by feeding milk laced with ''Kalli Paal'' (an extract of a poisonous plant) four days after the woman, Amudha (22), delivered the child in July last.

Police said in her complaint Amudha said that she found her baby dead with a foaming mouth after returning home from washing clothes.

The body was then buried.

Only after four months, she learnt that the baby's grandparents Chinnatha Thevar and Samuthirai poisoned the baby girl with the assistance of a relative, Katturaja.

Interrogation by the police confirmed the involvement of the trio in the dastardly crime.

The incident comes in the backdrop of the Tamil Nadu Government's claim of reduction in female infanticide in Usilampatti Taluk of this district which is infamous for the crime.

UNI