A 27-year-old woman, Lovpreet Kaur, was arrested on Saturday for allegedly murdering her 21-month-old daughter at their residence in Kherki village, under the Pasiana police station jurisdiction in Patiala district, according to police officials.
The accused, who has been undergoing treatment for depression for the past one and a half years, was produced in court and sent to judicial custody on Saturday. The police reported that the toddler was found injured at the family home on Tuesday evening with stab wounds. Initially, neighbors and relatives were told that the child had slipped and fallen on a knife.
Investigators revealed that the family initially attempted to portray the death as an accident. However, this claim was contradicted by police and forensic evidence. Inconsistencies in the woman's account and the nature of the child's injuries prompted a deeper investigation.
"The toddler was rushed to a private hospital initially, from where doctors referred her to a higher institute. The injured girl was taken to Government Rajindra Hospital Patiala, where she was declared dead," said Pasiana SHO Inspector Gurpreet Singh. "We became suspicious after noticing visible injuries and recovering a sharp-edged weapon from the scene, following which a post-mortem examination was conducted. The initial autopsy report suggested a sharp, deep injury in the abdomen."
According to police sources, Lovpreet Kaur allegedly attacked the child with a kitchen knife after becoming agitated by the infant's persistent crying. Investigators believe the incident occurred inside the house in a sudden fit of rage.
A case was registered under Section 103 of the BNS at Pasiana police station, and Lovpreet was arrested from her residence after the family's version of events failed to satisfy investigators during preliminary questioning. The police also seized the suspected murder weapon from the house and recorded statements from neighbors and close relatives to establish the precise sequence of events.
"The victim's father, Harpreet Singh, a farmer, was working in the fields at the time of the incident," said Inspector Gurpreet Singh, adding that the victim was born in August 2024. He further noted that the accused initially received treatment for depression in Patiala and was later referred to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh.
"We obtained a two-day police remand after her arrest. When questioned about the motive or circumstances leading to the crime, she revealed very little. She was sent to judicial custody on Saturday," the SHO added.
