Blinded by superstition, man kills infant grandchild in Ariyalur

CHENNAI: In a horrific crime, an elderly man committed an inhuman act of drowning his infant grandchild to death inside the washroom. The incident took place in Ariyalur, Tamil Nadu. Police said the murder was due to the aged man falling for the superstition advised to him by one astrologer. The infant was just 38 days old.

The grandfather of the victim, Veeramuthu (58) has been arrested in the incident. According to him, it was an astrologer who recommended eliminating the child born in Chithirai month, as it was feared that the newborn would bring evil to the family. Veeramuthu has confessed to the crime and said he acted according to the advice from the astrologer.

It was three days back that the infant was found dead inside the house. The family smelled foul play in the death and was highly suspicious of the whole incident. A police complaint was made and it was in the subsequent investigation that the murder angle came to light. A case has been registered against the astrologer, who is still at large. According to the police, no other family members are involved in the murder.