Delhi Shocker: Woman Strangles Newborn To Death Amid Social Stigma Over Girl Child

New Delhi: A 28-year-old woman allegedly strangled her newborn daughter to death while breastfeeding her, driven by distress over the social stigma of having four girl children, according to police. The newborn's body has been recovered and a case of murder registered against the woman.

According to a police statement, Khyala police station in West Delhi received a call early on Friday morning. 

The caller said that a six-day-old girl was missing. Police rushed to the spot and spoke to the mother. 

She told the cops that she was discharged from the hospital Thursday and went to her parents' home. 

She initially claimed the baby went missing after she fell asleep while breastfeeding the night before.

As police began searching the area and checking CCTV footage in the neighbourhood to find the missing newborn. 

"While the search was on, Shivani said that they needed to go to hospital to get the stitches removed. It seemed a bit odd, but considering the medical condition, the police did not stop them," the statement said.

During the search, the newborn's body was found inside a bag on the roof of a neighboring house. 

The infant was pronounced dead after arrival at the hospital.

Police found the mother's behaviour suspicious and questioned her. She then broke down and confessed to killing her daughter.

The woman said the newborn was her fourth girl child two of them had already expired.

"She was facing a lot of social stigma because of that. While feeding the child, she got overawed by these thoughts and smothered/strangulated the child and then threw it on the neighboring roof. 

She could not sleep after that and wasn't sure what to tell the family members. Hence she told them that the child is missing," the police have said in their statement.

Police are now awaiting the results of the newborn's autopsy to verify the mother's account and confirm the exact cause of death.