India Shining: Man held for killing daughter; performs black magic for a boy

Daily News: Forcing Indians to look in the mirror
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Ahmedabad/Man_held_for_killing_daughte r/articleshow/2939291.cms

AHMEDABAD: In a bizarre incident, a father dashed his two-and-half-year-old daughter Sangeeta to the floor, killing her. The child's fault was that she had been crying and her mother was not at home to calm her down.

Circumstantial evidence, however, led the police to suspect that the man, Bharat Thakor, 32, may have killed his daughter to perform black magic, for a boy. Just three months ago, his wife, Falguni, 24, had given birth to their fifth daughter.

Bharat was alone with his four daughters when the incident took place on Tuesday evening in Fatehwadi on Sarkhej-Bavla Highway. After killing Sangeeta, he dumped her body in a nearby pond.

It was Bharat's mother, Ramila, 46, who registered a police complaint in this regard. Bharat was arrested on Wednesday evening. Police started investigations after they recovered the body of the little girl from a pond near the Sarkhej-Bavla Highway on Wednesday.

According to Aslali police officials, Bharat is an alcoholic and a daily wager, who used to spend most of his earnings on liquor. He allegedly often beat up his mother and wife Falguni. The couple had five daughters, said officials.

"According to her complaint, Ramila and her daughter-in-law, Falguni left his house with the new born girl child a fortnight ago. Tired of the constant fights the trio went to live with Ramila's daughter, Shanta, in Bavla village. They thought that it would sober him down as he would have to take care of the four daughters. However, the ploy backfired and Bharat started beating his children too," said a police investigator of Aslali police station.

"Cries of the girls drew the attention of Bharat's neighbours. On Wednesday morning, when they came to check, everything seemed in order. However, when a woman asked Bharat about the cries, he said how in a drunken fit he bodily lifted Sangeeta and slammed her against the floor. He then threw her body in a nearby lake. When he became sober, he wanted to cover up his mistake. We have started hunting for him and lodged a complaint. Ramilaben and Falguni returned home on Wednesday," said an Aslali police official.

According to nearby residents, Bharat was a mentally ill person who used to beat each and everyone who dared to cross his path or even advice him to mend his ways.