Kochi: A mother named Sandhya, accused of murdering her 3-year-old daughter by throwing her into a river, has been remanded in custody for two weeks. The tragic incident took place in Moozhikulam, Ernakulam district, Kerala.
On the evening of Monday, May 19, Sandhya reportedly took her daughter, Kalyani, from her husband’s home and traveled approximately 35 kilometers by bus to her native place. Upon reaching Moozhikulam, she allegedly threw the child into the Chalakudy River from a bridge. After committing the act, she left the scene in an auto-rickshaw and returned to her home, located about 1.5 kilometers away.
CCTV footage captured Sandhya walking with the child toward the bridge. A joint search operation involving the police, fire force, and a scuba diving team led to the recovery of the child’s body around 2:20 a.m. on Tuesday, near the third pillar of the Moozhikulam bridge. According to Chengamanad Police, Sandhya confessed to throwing the child into the river from the middle of the bridge.
Authorities are now investigating whether mental health issues or domestic problems contributed to the crime. While Sandhya’s family and husband have denied any history of mental illness, neighbors and relatives described her as someone prone to frequent anger. Her mother stated that Sandhya had undergone mental health evaluations in the past and also alleged that her husband, Subhash, had physically abused her.
Initially, Sandhya gave conflicting accounts of the incident, claiming at different times that the child was lost in Aluva, then saying she had gone missing on a bus, and later suggesting the child slipped from her hands. These contradictory statements prompted an investigation by the Puthencruz Police. Eventually, Chengamanad Police took Sandhya into custody, where she confessed to the crime and was formally arrested on Monday.
The horrifying case has sent shockwaves throughout Kerala. Further legal proceedings and psychiatric evaluations are expected in the coming days.
