A nine-year-old girl in Ludhiana was strangled to death by her mother and step-father in a bid to pocket the money from the insurance policy taken out in her name, a report by Hindustan Times stated.
Police said the girl’s mother Pinki, 27, and her new husband Narinderpal, 31, allegedly killed their daughter Bharti on the night of June 19 inside a cattle-feed factory in Humbran. The couple had bought a Rs 2.5 lakh life insurance policy for Bharti in 2018.
Assistant sub-inspector Harpal Singh told Hindustan Times, "The couple had bought a plot for Rs 3 lakh in 2019 and were paying for it in instalments. They had already paid Rs 1.49 lakh to the bank, but were struggling to pay the remainder. Thus, they came up with the plan to kill Bharti and use the insurance money to settle their dues."
Narinderpal, who lived with his wife, son and step-daughter in the quarters of the cattle-feed factory where he was employed, allegedly strangulated Bharti in her sleep, while Pinki gagged her with a dupatta.
In the morning, the couple took the nine-year-old to a hospital, claiming that they had found Bharti lying unconscious. Doctors declared the girl brought dead.
Neighbours told the police that Narinderpal did not like Bharti, who was Pinki’s daughter by her first husband, and would often beat her.
Pinki and Narinderpal initially claimed that the minor died of natural causes, but the post-mortem report confirmed strangulation. On being interrogated, the two accused confessed, saying they conspired to kill the girl to solve their financial difficulties.
The couple, currently in police remand, has been charged under Sections 302, 120-B, 182 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.