A shocking crime has emerged from Panipat in Haryana, where a woman has been arrested for allegedly killing four children, including her own son, police said on Wednesday. The case has stunned the local community and raised serious concerns about child safety and mental health.
The investigation started after a six-year-old girl named Vidhi went missing during a relative’s wedding in Naultha village on December 1. Hours later, her body was found drowned in a plastic tub in a storeroom, with the door locked from the outside. Police quickly suspected foul play.
Accused Confesses to Four Murders During Police Interrogation
Police arrested 32-year-old Poonam, Vidhi’s aunt, after questioning and CCTV checks. During interrogation, she confessed to drowning Vidhi as well as three other children, including her own three-year-old son, over the past two years.
Deaths Previously Treated as Accidents Now Linked to Serial Pattern
Investigators found that all four deaths had a similar pattern: the children were drowned alone in tubs or water tanks, and their deaths were initially treated as accidents by family members. Police said Poonam targeted children she believed were more attractive than her own, driven by jealousy and resentment.
Victims Include Three Relatives and the Accused’s Own Son
According to authorities, Poonam killed the first victim, her sister-in-law’s 9-year-old daughter, in 2023 in a water tank. Because the death was ruled an accident at the time, suspicion did not fall on her. Fearing discovery, she later killed her own son in the same way.
In August 2025, she allegedly murdered another young relative under similar circumstances before the latest killing of Vidhi. Police described her behaviour as highly deliberate and cold.