Newborn strangled to death in Kerala; cops arrest non-native labourer couple in Idukki

The child was born to the couple, hailing from Madhya Pradesh, who had been in a relationship for some time and were staying together as estate workers.

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‘False pride’

Idukki’s Cumbammettu Station House Officer (SHO) Anil Kumar told South First that the couple, who arrived in Kerala on 9 March, was staying beside an estate in Cumbammettu.

According to him, they strangled the newborn due to “false pride” of conceiving a baby prior to their marriage.

“The couple arrived for work on 9 March and have been staying there since then. They hail from a village in the Mandla district in Madhya Pradesh. Since they were unmarried, they felt false pride after conceiving the baby, which made them strangle the newborn to death,” Kumar said.

According to him, the couple concealed the crime and informed neighbours that the newborn had died a natural death.

“The residents informed a doctor and the newborn’s body was taken to a hospital. During the post-mortem examination, the doctor felt something was off and conveyed his apprehension to the police. When we interrogated the couple, they admitted to the crime,” the officer told South First.

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Police slap murder charges

The man, aged about 23 years, has been arrested in connection with the child’s death, police said.

The woman, after treatment at a local hospital, was discharged and taken into custody by the police.

“The couple is in police custody and will be produced before the court in the evening. The police have invoked Sections 201, 302, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code,” Kumar told South First on Friday.

(With PTI inputs)