Tragic Incident in West Bengal: Father and Grandfather Arrested for Infant's Death

Arrest in Infant's Death Case

Kolkata, July 23: Authorities in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district have apprehended a father and grandfather in connection with the alleged murder of a two-month-old girl, whose body was discovered buried in a wooded area, as reported by police on Thursday.

The tragic event took place in the Jagatdal locality, where the infant's remains were later exhumed and sent for a post-mortem at Barrackpore Sub-Divisional Hospital.

Police identified the suspects as Apurba Banerjee, the father, and Vikas Banerjee, the grandfather. Investigators revealed that the family had been anticipating a male child and expressed dissatisfaction following the birth of another daughter. Disturbingly, they did not visit the hospital to check on the mother or the newborn.

Reports indicate that the infant had been unwell for several days. However, on Wednesday, allegations emerged suggesting that the child had been killed and secretly interred in a nearby forest.

In response to a complaint and local protests, police arrived at the scene and led the suspects to the alleged burial site. Based on their information, officers exhumed the body and sent it for an autopsy. Both individuals were subsequently arrested and charged under applicable laws.

Residents in the area voiced their concerns regarding the circumstances of the child's death. One neighbor mentioned to local media that while the family claimed the infant had died of natural causes, the swift burial without notifying neighbors or authorities raised suspicions.

Chandrani Mondal, a neighbor, stated, "This morning, we learned that the baby girl was killed and buried by her father and grandfather. We sought clarification, but they insisted that the baby died naturally. If that were true, why the rush to bury her without informing anyone? We demand a thorough police investigation into this matter."

Sampati Banerjee, the mother of the deceased infant, recounted, "My daughter had been ill for two or three days. When I woke up this morning, her body was cold, and she was not breathing. I wanted to take her to the hospital, but my husband and father-in-law refused. They quickly took her from me and buried her in the forest next to our home."

Authorities stated that the precise cause of death will be established following the post-mortem report, and further inquiries are ongoing.