Paikamal: In a horrific incident, a three-year-old minor girl was hacked to death by her mother at Goudajuri village under Paikamal police limits in Bargarh district Sunday night. The accused woman was identified as Sushama Bariha, wife of Kuladhar Bariha of the same village. The deceased girl was identified as the couple’s minor daughter Mamata.
The incident spread shockwaves in the area. Hundreds of locals thronged the spot of the crime. On being alerted, police reached the village and launched an investigation.
The body was seized and sent for post-mortem to Padmapur sub-divisional government hospital. A blood-stained axe used in the crime and clothes were seized from Sushama’s possession. Police detained the woman and continued her interrogation.
According to sources, Sushama married Kuladhar 15 years back. The couple had a 12-year-old son Pinku and later Sushama gave birth to Mamata three years back.
Sources said Sushama was unhappy that she had given birth to a girl. She was hoping for a boy and was always aloof with Mamata and was never affectionate towards her, family sources said. Even after three years, she kept Mamata at arm’s length and her behaviour towards her daughter only worsened each passing day.
On the fateful night, the couple went to bed along with Mamata while Pinku was sleeping in another room. Later, Sushama woke up in the middle of the night and hacked Mamata with an axe.
Kuladhar woke up to find himself in a pool of blood and shouted for help after seeing his wife wielding a bloody axe. Family members rushed to the spot only to find the woman sitting near her daughter’s body with the blood-stained axe.
Further investigation into the incident is on, police said. PNN
