Woman Kills Sleeping Niece Over Family Jealousy, Throws Child into Well in Ramanathapuram

A deeply disturbing murder case has shaken Ramanathapuram after a 5-year-old girl was found dead in a well, with her aunt-in-law confessing to the killing out of jealousy and family bitterness.

Background

Balaganesh (32), a daily-wage labourer from Muthuramlingapuram 2nd Street, Paigara area, Madurai, has twin daughters — Sai Deepti and Charu Nithika (both 5) — with his wife Karthigaiselvi (28). On the day of the incident, Karthigaiselvi had travelled to her father Muthumurugan's house in MSK Nagar, Ramanathapuram, with both children.

Girl Found Dead in Well

Late at midnight, Sai Deepti suddenly went missing from inside the house. The alarmed family searched everywhere and eventually discovered the girl's body floating in a covered well behind a neighbour's house belonging to a man named Balpandi. The mother Karthigaiselvi broke down at the sight.

Police arrived at the scene, recovered the body, and sent it for post-mortem at the government hospital. A case was registered and investigated under the leadership of Ramanathapuram Town Inspector Theivika Pandian.

Investigation and Confession

Police reasoned that the incident could not have occurred without someone inside the house being involved. They began questioning family members intensively and zeroed in on Sabariga (22), the wife of Karthigaiselvi's brother Ajith Kumar. Sabariga gave contradictory answers during questioning, and deeper interrogation revealed she was the killer.

Sabariga's Motive — In Her Own Words

Sabariga told police:

I fell in love with Ajith Kumar — a relative's son — while we were in college. His family refused to accept the relationship. So Ajith eloped with me and we got married. His mother, Bhoomadevi, had already planned to get him married into a wealthy family, and our love marriage enraged her.

After that, neither Bhoomadevi nor her daughter Karthigaiselvi showed any affection towards me. About 11 months ago, I gave birth to a daughter — but she was born with a disability. That only deepened the family's contempt. Whenever Karthigaiselvi visited, there would be conflict in the house.

I grew angry at Karthigaiselvi and her children. I felt that because her two children were beautiful and healthy, everyone cared for them while ignoring my disabled child. My resentment grew day by day.

Then Karthigaiselvi announced an ear-piercing ceremony for her twins and asked for some of my jewellery to be presented as a gift. I couldn't bring myself to agree to that.

The Night of the Murder

Two days ago, Karthigaiselvi arrived with her children. My in-laws doted on the children. That night, after everyone had dinner and chatted, they all went to sleep. When everyone was deep asleep, I quietly picked up Sai Deepti and carried her outside.

As I walked towards the railway tracks, Sai Deepti opened her eyes and asked, "Aunt, where are we going?" I said, "Nothing — go back to sleep," and patted her. She fell asleep on my shoulder.

When I reached near the railway tracks, dogs started barking in the area. I turned back towards the house. But I thought if I brought the child back inside, someone would suspect me. So I went to the back of a nearby house and threw Sai Deepti into the covered well in a split second. She struggled in the water fighting for her life. But I went home. I thought police would only suspect the neighbours or outsiders.

Following her confession, Sabariga was arrested, produced before a court, and remanded to judicial custody.

Sai Deepti's body was handed to her parents after the post-mortem and taken back to Madurai. The incident has sent shockwaves through Ramanathapuram.