Mother Throws 3-Year-Old Daughter Into River Amid Family Dispute

TDT | Manama

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In a deeply disturbing incident near Kochi, a three-year-old girl was allegedly killed by her mother, who threw her into the Chalakudy river on Monday evening. The child’s body was recovered early Tuesday morning, sparking outrage and sorrow across the community.

The accused, identified as Sandhya, reportedly picked up her daughter Kalyani from a local anganwadi (rural child care centre) around 3:30 p.m. on Monday. When she returned home alone, her mother, Ally, questioned Kalyani’s whereabouts. Sandhya initially claimed that the child had “gone” and later told others that she had gone missing from a bus.

The police launched a search operation and reviewed CCTV footage, which showed Sandhya near the river. After being taken into custody, she confessed to throwing Kalyani into the river. The girl’s body was recovered by local residents around 3:30 a.m. the next day.

Investigators have cited family problems as the likely motive behind the shocking crime. Sandhya’s husband, Subhash, told police that she would not listen to him and instead took advice only from her mother and sister. He refuted suggestions that she was mentally unstable, saying she was “perfectly fine.”

Further disturbing details have emerged, with neighbours revealing that this was not the first time Sandhya had allegedly attempted to harm her child. Ashokan, a neighbour, claimed that she had previously tried to feed Kalyani ice cream laced with poison, but the attempt was thwarted by her elder child. The incident had been reported to the police at the time, and Sandhya was sent for counselling.

Soumya, a teacher at the anganwadi Kalyani attended, expressed heartbreak over the loss. "For the past 18 months, we were like a family. The children were happy here. We are shocked that Kalyani, who was with us just yesterday, is no longer with us," she said.

Sandhya is currently in police custody, and the Ernakulam Rural Police are expected to formally register her arrest. Kalyani’s body has been sent for a post-mortem examination and will be handed over to her father afterward.

The case has triggered widespread grief and renewed discussions about mental health awareness, family counselling, and child protection in the state.