Police in Bengaluru have arrested a couple for allegedly murdering their 11-month-old daughter and attempting to pass off the crime as an accidental fall. The law enforcement authorities confirmed the arrests on Monday, 6 July, revealing a disturbing sequence of events that led to the child’s tragic death.
The incident took place on 9 June in Kitaganur village, located within the jurisdiction of the Avalahalli Police Station in east Bengaluru. Initially, the child’s father, Shekiyappa, approached the police claiming that his wife, Vijayalakshmi, had accidentally fallen asleep whilst breastfeeding. According to his initial statement, the infant subsequently rolled off the bed, sustained fatal injuries, and died. Based on this account, the local police registered a case of unnatural death and began preliminary enquiries. Shekiyappa maintained that they had rushed the infant to a nearby hospital immediately after the alleged fall, where doctors pronounced her dead on arrival.
However, a post-mortem report received by investigators on 22 June completely contradicted the parents’ version of events. The medical findings revealed that the infant had died from severe internal bleeding and respiratory complications caused by multiple blunt-force injuries. Pathologists discovered numerous marks of physical abuse across the child’s body, including injuries to her face, chest, legs, and private parts.
Following the medical report, forensic investigators visited the family home to reconstruct the scene. They noted that the bed stood a mere two feet above the floor. Based on the height of the platform, investigators and medical experts concluded that it was physically impossible for a child to sustain such extensive, catastrophic internal injuries from an accidental tumble.
Subjected to rigorous interrogation, the suspect confessed to what had actually transpired on the afternoon of 9 June. Shekiyappa had returned home for lunch when a fierce argument erupted between him and his wife. As the altercation escalated, the infant grew frightened and began to cry. Infuriated by the noise, Vijayalakshmi kicked the baby. Witnessing this, Shekiyappa lost his temper, snatched the crying infant, and threw her violently onto the hard floor, inflicting the fatal internal trauma.
Neighbourhood statements corroborated the volatile domestic environment, with witnesses reporting that the couple quarrelled frequently. Statements gathered by the police also alleged that Vijayalakshmi was involved in an extramarital relationship with a neighbour and had consistently shown severe neglect towards her child. Backed by medical evidence and eyewitness testimonies, the Avalahalli police altered the charges, registering a formal murder case against Shekiyappa and Vijayalakshmi under Sections 103(1) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The suspects remain in custody as judicial proceedings continue.
