Woman arrested for killing newborn granddaughter in Erode

A woman was arrested on Monday (July 20, 2026) for allegedly strangling her newborn granddaughter to death at a private hospital in Bhavani, allegedly because the child was the family’s second daughter, the police said.

According to the police, Priyadharshini (25), wife of Selvakumar of Kattuvalavu near Edappadi in Salem district, was admitted to the hospital after she developed labour pains on July 17. She delivered a baby girl through a caesarean section at 4.40 a.m. on July 18. The couple has a four-year-old daughter.

The police said Selvakumar was admitted to the same hospital later that day after reportedly suffering a seizure. Priyadharshini’s mother, Thangamani, and her son, Bhoopathi, stayed at the hospital to look after the newborn.

At around 8.15 p.m. on July 18, the baby was found unresponsive in the ward. Hospital staff noticed injuries and bloodstains on the infant’s neck, nose, and chin. The child was immediately referred to a children’s hospital, where doctors declared her brought dead.

Suspecting foul play, the hospital alerted the Bhavani police, who shifted the body to the Government Erode Medical College and Hospital in Perundurai for post-mortem examination. A case of suspicious death was initially registered.

The post-mortem examination reportedly confirmed that the infant had died due to strangulation. During the subsequent investigation, the police questioned Thangamani, who allegedly confessed to killing the child.

According to the police, Thangamani told investigators that she had expected her daughter to give birth to a male child. She allegedly said she feared that Priyadharshini would find it difficult to raise two daughters as her husband allegedly did not provide adequate support to the family.

Based on the findings of the investigation, the police altered the case to one of murder, arrested Thangamani, and remanded her in judicial custody. Further investigation is under way.