Baby burial: Nedumangad police register murder case

Mother, grandmother named accused

The Nedumangad police have registered a case of murder in connection with the burial of a newborn baby at the Panayamuttam Adivasi settlement in Nedumangad taluk. The mother and grandmother of the baby have been named the accused and taken into custody.

According to Nedumangad sub inspector V. Baiju, case was registered against Suma, 25, and her mother Kumari, 47, on charges of burying Suma’s newborn hours after it was delivered. According to the preliminary post-mortem report, the baby was suspected to have been buried alive, Mr. Baiju said. It was Kumari who was alleged to have committed the murder since her daughter was unwed. The police are trying to ascertain the identity of the child’s father.

In the inquest held on Saturday, police forensic experts, specialists from the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital, and the district administration participated.

Neighbours alert police

It is suspected that Suma had delivered the baby on July 22 in the toilet of their house, and Kumari had buried the child within hours. The incident came to light on Friday when neighbours grew suspicious and alerted the police.

The arrest of both mother and daughter would be recorded on Sunday and they would be produced before court soon after, Mr. Baiju said.

Nedumangad Circle Inspector S. Suresh Kumar would lead the investigation.